© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Investigation Probes Amtrak Derailment In Vermont

Federal investigators are probing the derailment of a Washington, D.C.-bound Amtrak train in Vermont that left seven people hurt this week. The train carrying 98 passengers and four crew members derailed at about 10:30 Monday morning.

The southbound Amtrak passenger train was traveling from St. Albans, VT, to Washington D.C. when it hit rocks that had fallen from a ledge onto the tracks in Northfield, about 20 miles southwest of Montpelier. The locomotive and one of the passenger coaches tumbled down an embankment. Three passenger cars left the tracks but remained upright.

At a press conference Monday streamed on bigstory.ap.org, Governor Peter Shumlin said there is no reason to believe negligence was involved.   “This track was rebuilt.  It was a state of the art track. Ledge slides happen. This is an example of a rail track that got rebuilt with federal money.  It’s state of the art.  There’s no reason to believe that the rebuilding that rail had anything to do with this accident.  This really is an example of a freak of nature.”

Six passengers were taken to the Central Vermont Medical Center where they were treated and released.  One crew member was taken to the Dartmouth Medical Center.  There were no fatalities.

Vermont Director of the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Christopher Herrick says their role was scaled back significantly Monday afternoon.   “The emergency really was over when we’ve accounted for all of the passengers and Amtrak employees and the environmental hazard had been mitigated. At that point there’s no real reason for Emergency Management to have continued involvement.”

An Amtrak spokesperson emailed their latest service alert. It indicates Amtrak is limited as to the information they can provide because the tracks are owned by the New England Central Railroad. That company must repair the tracks and return the route to service.  Amtrak meanwhile will provide transportation via bus north of Springfield, Massachusetts, that will mimic the train schedule as closely as possible.  

Investigators from the Federal Railroad Administration and National Transportation Safety Board arrived Monday afternoon and are now in charge of the scene.  

Governor Peter Shumlin and Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman met with the media late this morning in Northfield, streamed live on WPTZ television.   The governor said they hope to repair the rail tracks quickly.  “The NTSB is on site right now obviously confirming  exactly what caused the challenges. We believe that obviously the freak incident of ledge falling on the track led to the challenge that we’re facing here.  It doesn’t appear to be a situation of a conductor driving too fast or not doing anything improper.  Having said that we’re going to get the Amtrak Vermonter back up and running as quick as we possibly can.  We expect that cranes and other equipment will be in there moving the cars.  They’ll take them down to a site in Roxbury VT.  We will bring on new cars, fix the track and our hope is to have the Vermonter back up and running in days not weeks.”

Amtrak CEO Boardman was relieved that there were no severe injuries.  He was peppered with questions about trains passing by ledges.  “Everybody has problems with rocks whether it’s on the highway or whether it’s in railroads.  And they haven’t decided at least last I knew that they would bring a geologist along for this particular investigation but they have access and staffing of a geologist that could take a look at this.”

Governor Shumlin inserts: “There’s no reason to believe that Vermont’s ledges are looser than other l edges around the country.”

The rail bed was damaged during the derailment. The track, operated by New England Central Railroad, was upgraded in 2013 and the speed limit was raised from 55 mph to 59 mph.

Calls to New England Central Railroad were not returned in time for this broadcast.

Copyright 2015 WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Pat Bradley

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content