RailNews

Investigators Focus on Improperly Lined Switch in Amtrak Silver Star Collision

According to reports in the Washington Post, federal investigators are focusing on a switch that was improperly lined that sent the Miami-bound Amtrak Silver Star on a collision course with a parked CSX freight train early Sunday morning near Cayce, S.C. Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Anderson issued a statement that said, in part, “CSX had lined and padlocked the switch off the mainline to the siding, causing the collision.” Officials at CSX did not offer comment on Anderson’s statement, only saying they are cooperating with the federal investigation. The crash killed the Amtrak engineer and conductor, and injured more than 100 passengers. The exact cause of the accident is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

—Passenger Train Journal

This article was posted on: February 5, 2018