UPDATE: 12:42 p.m.
CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say an Amtrak train struck a piece of construction equipment just south of Philadelphia, killing two people and injuring more than 30.
Amtrak said Train 89 hit a backhoe that was on the track in Chester, about 15 miles from Philadelphia, at about 8 a.m. Sunday. The lead engine of the train derailed. The train was carrying more than 300 passengers and seven crew members and was heading from New York to Savannah, Georgia.
Chester fire commissioner Travis Thomas said two people were killed. They were not passengers on the train. More than 30 people were taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
Service on the Northeast Corridor was suspended between Wilmington and Philadelphia, but service to New York remained operational.
The National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Again???
I don’t think hitting a back hoe counts as “again”.
It hit Gov. Christie, who was on the tracks protesting his ouster from the “quiet car”. The Gov was not injured, the engine was a total loss, as was his term as Governor.
edit: Seeming unable to learn my lesson about commenting on disasters before all the news is in, I apologize, this is not a snarkable event.
Close to Philly again.
This is one of busiest rail lines in the world and it may be even number 1. America’s only high-speed rail line runs fancy trains through there every few minutes. Accidents happen everywhere… But on similar main lines in France, Spain, Germany, BENELUX, Taiwan, Japan, China, I can testify that there are fences and walls securing the railroad right of way. So no, there is no opportunity to park a backhoe right on the tracks!
It’s a question of mentality in infrastructure. And it is embarrassing, or it certainly should be