More details are coming out about the serious accident from December 18, 2017 where an Amtrak train derailed from a highway overpass near DuPont, Washington.
The train was traveling at 78 miles per hour, more than twice the speed limit of the curve that the train was attempting to negotiate, resulting in the derailment. Fourteen highway vehicles came into contact with the derailed train. Four people were killed and at least 60 more injured.
The track speed north of the accident site is 79 mph and decreases to 30 mph at MP 19.8, prior to a curve. A 30 mph speed sign was posted 2 miles before the curve on the engineer’s side of the track, to remind the operating crews of the upcoming speed restriction. Furthermore, another 30 mph speed sign was on the wayside at the beginning of the curve on the engineer’s side of the locomotive.
The investigation into the exact causes of this terrible event is still on going. To read the NTSB preliminary report, please click here:
https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/RRD18MR001-prelim.pdf
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