Amtrak derails in Missouri; apparent collision with truck at rail crossing
Jun 27, 2022, 1:59 pm
#1
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Amtrak derails in Missouri; apparent collision with truck at rail crossing
Last edited by Long Train Runnin; Jun 27, 2022 at 5:17 pm Reason: Fixed Link to make it clickable.
Jun 27, 2022, 7:41 pm
#2
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Two crashes and six deaths in one week (the other being somewhere east of Oakland). I thought the Amtrak cars were significantly heavier than the European equivalents, and less likely to derail, but that's not always the case. Compare with the Frankford (North Philadelphia) derailment -- which I remember as I was on the Acela immediately ahead of the derailed train and ended up having to fly back to DCA the next evening.
Jun 27, 2022, 8:18 pm
#3
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Only two of the deaths were passengers on a train. The others were occupants of the vehicles that were struck. The train was likely going 90 mph at the time of the crash, so only two deaths of 243 passengers illustrates the durability of the train cars. It's too bad that Amtrak has to run on tracks with multiple crossings because there are always idiots who make fatal mistakes trying to beat the train. Most high speed trains in Europe run on tracks that don't have road crossings, so they can typically run at higher speeds.
Jun 27, 2022, 10:35 pm
#4
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Amtrak posted an update a couple hours ago.
#3 out of Chicago today was canceled in its entirety to Los Angeles.
#3 tomorrow will originate in Kansas City.
The #4 that originated in LAX on the 26th and which is currently traversing Colorado/Kansas will terminate in Kansas City tomorrow morning. Onward passengers will be reacommodated.
If #4 arrives on-time or close to it at 6:53am, passengers could transfer to the Missouri River Runner-Lincoln Service #318 departing at 8:40am, though that train isn't big enough to accommodate the entire passenger manifest. That said, it looks like they may be blocking seats for that connection, since if you try to search for a train from KC to St. Louis (or anywhere along the MORR route) tomorrow, Amtrak.com says "no service found," which is untrue (it works if you search for the 29th), so they've likely just removed train #318 from ARROW entirely so as to preserve as many seats as possible for connecting passengers. That's my guess, anyway.
From photos of the scene, it looks like the parallel main track is unharmed, so my guess is that service (both Amtrak and freight--this is BNSF's primary transcontinental route from Los Angeles to Chicago) will resume relatively soon, once the NTSB completes their on-site investigation and the wreckage is handled. That said, the BNSF Marceline Sub (the affected route) has a parallel route from KC to Galesburg (the Brookfield Sub, which also intersects with the Marceline Sub in Bucklin, just up the tracks from the site of the accident in Mendon). If Amtrak can get a crew qualified on that route, that might be an option to restore service quickly. (Either that or BNSF may actually be in no hurry to restore service since they have a workable backup route...)
#3 out of Chicago today was canceled in its entirety to Los Angeles.
#3 tomorrow will originate in Kansas City.
The #4 that originated in LAX on the 26th and which is currently traversing Colorado/Kansas will terminate in Kansas City tomorrow morning. Onward passengers will be reacommodated.
If #4 arrives on-time or close to it at 6:53am, passengers could transfer to the Missouri River Runner-Lincoln Service #318 departing at 8:40am, though that train isn't big enough to accommodate the entire passenger manifest. That said, it looks like they may be blocking seats for that connection, since if you try to search for a train from KC to St. Louis (or anywhere along the MORR route) tomorrow, Amtrak.com says "no service found," which is untrue (it works if you search for the 29th), so they've likely just removed train #318 from ARROW entirely so as to preserve as many seats as possible for connecting passengers. That's my guess, anyway.
From photos of the scene, it looks like the parallel main track is unharmed, so my guess is that service (both Amtrak and freight--this is BNSF's primary transcontinental route from Los Angeles to Chicago) will resume relatively soon, once the NTSB completes their on-site investigation and the wreckage is handled. That said, the BNSF Marceline Sub (the affected route) has a parallel route from KC to Galesburg (the Brookfield Sub, which also intersects with the Marceline Sub in Bucklin, just up the tracks from the site of the accident in Mendon). If Amtrak can get a crew qualified on that route, that might be an option to restore service quickly. (Either that or BNSF may actually be in no hurry to restore service since they have a workable backup route...)
Jun 28, 2022, 1:12 pm
#5
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Two crashes and six deaths in one week (the other being somewhere east of Oakland). I thought the Amtrak cars were significantly heavier than the European equivalents, and less likely to derail, but that's not always the case. Compare with the Frankford (North Philadelphia) derailment -- which I remember as I was on the Acela immediately ahead of the derailed train and ended up having to fly back to DCA the next evening.
Amtrak Superliner derailment - 2 deaths @ 90mph
Amtrak - Cascades derailment ("lightweight cars") - 3 deaths @ 79 mph
German ICE derailment - 101 deaths @ 120 mph
Jun 29, 2022, 1:14 pm
#6
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Amtrak trains definitely fall off the track just like any other train (they are not only heavier, but also taller/more top-heavy). But they usually just tip over, unlike their lighter/faster peers that pancake into each other (and produce a much higher death rate).
Amtrak Superliner derailment - 2 deaths @ 90mph
Amtrak - Cascades derailment ("lightweight cars") - 3 deaths @ 79 mph
German ICE derailment - 101 deaths @ 120 mph
Amtrak Superliner derailment - 2 deaths @ 90mph
Amtrak - Cascades derailment ("lightweight cars") - 3 deaths @ 79 mph
German ICE derailment - 101 deaths @ 120 mph
Jun 29, 2022, 3:59 pm
#7
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I'd be curious to see a broader statistical analysis just to make sure we're not cherry-picking data here, but you bring up a good point, especially if it's accurate. I've long seen railfans arguing that the FRA needs to drop the reinforcement/weight requirements so that US passenger railroads can use lower-cost international designs, but if this is accurate, this is a pretty big argument for such requirements.
But really I think Amtrak's biggest issue is grade crossings. I am pretty sure that is Amtrak's # 1 cause of derailments - a train hits a car or truck at a grade crossing. There are way too many of those on the tracks Amtrak operates on outside the NE Corridor and they are much more rare on the main lines in places like Europe and Japan.
It's also a problem with Brightline in Florida and is about to become a much bigger problem all the way up to the Cocoa area when the Orlando extension starts where motorists are not familiar with more frequent and higher-speed passenger trains using the rails and where grade crossings are the norm.
Jun 29, 2022, 5:32 pm
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[QUOTE=Bear96;34381966
It's also a problem with Brightline in Florida and is about to become a much bigger problem all the way up to the Cocoa area when the Orlando extension starts where motorists are not familiar with more frequent and higher-speed passenger trains using the rails and where grade crossings are the norm.[/QUOTE]
All of the crossings will have full width gates, so vehicles will not be able to go around them.
It's also a problem with Brightline in Florida and is about to become a much bigger problem all the way up to the Cocoa area when the Orlando extension starts where motorists are not familiar with more frequent and higher-speed passenger trains using the rails and where grade crossings are the norm.[/QUOTE]
All of the crossings will have full width gates, so vehicles will not be able to go around them.
Jun 30, 2022, 8:43 am
#9
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Missouri farmer warned railway about crossing before Amtrak derailment
https://nypost.com/2022/06/28/farmer...ak-derailment/
Both Spencer and another local farmer, Daryl Jacobs, said the approach to the crossing is very steep — about 9 feet from the flat road to the top of the track — and a portion of it is obstructed by brush.
Jun 30, 2022, 11:08 am
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Boy Scouts Stepped Up to Aid Passengers Injured in Deadly Amtrak Wreck
On the website of Railfan magazine:
Link to full article: Railfan.com - Boy Scouts Stepped Up to Aid Passengers Injured in Deadly Amtrak Wreck
MENDON, Mo. — Among those rendering aid to the victims of the deadly Amtrak Southwest Chief derailment this week in Missouri, were two groups of Boy Scouts returning from a week-long trek at the Philmont Scout Ranch in northern New Mexico.
The Scouts were going home to Wisconsin when their train, eastbound No. 4, hit a truck and derailed at a remote crossing in Missouri, about 100 miles northeast of Kansas City. Four people were killed in the incident, including the truck driver. According to the Boy Scouts of America, the 16 Scouts and eight adults from Boy Scouts Troops 12 and 73, immediately started helping their fellow passengers get out of the overturned passenger cars. One of the Scouts spotted the truck driver who had been ejected and was lying in a nearby ditch. The young man provide first aid and comfort before the driver died of his injuries.
“In true Scouting fashion, the Scouts rendered aid to their fellow passengers before they worried about anything for themselves,” said Scott Armstrong, Director of National Media Relations for Boy Scouts of America.
Two adult crew members and two Scouts were transferred to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The Scouts were going home to Wisconsin when their train, eastbound No. 4, hit a truck and derailed at a remote crossing in Missouri, about 100 miles northeast of Kansas City. Four people were killed in the incident, including the truck driver. According to the Boy Scouts of America, the 16 Scouts and eight adults from Boy Scouts Troops 12 and 73, immediately started helping their fellow passengers get out of the overturned passenger cars. One of the Scouts spotted the truck driver who had been ejected and was lying in a nearby ditch. The young man provide first aid and comfort before the driver died of his injuries.
“In true Scouting fashion, the Scouts rendered aid to their fellow passengers before they worried about anything for themselves,” said Scott Armstrong, Director of National Media Relations for Boy Scouts of America.
Two adult crew members and two Scouts were transferred to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Jul 1, 2022, 1:56 pm
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Jul 1, 2022, 10:02 pm
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