New High-Speed Train Derails on Its First Ever Trip: Here's What We Know
Watch news, TV and more on Yahoo View.
An Amtrak train derailed Monday morning in Washington state. This was the first ride for a new high-speed service linking the cities of Olympia and Tacoma. The cause of the derailment is not yet known, though at least one source has confirmed people have died in the crash.
Amtrak Train 501 derailed shortly before 7:45 a.m. Pacific time. It came off the tracks while crossing an overpass above Interstate 5 in Pierce County, about 20 miles south of Tacoma and 15 miles east of Olympia. Photos from the scene show one of the train cars hanging off the bridge, while other derailed cars reportedly hit vehicles on the highway.
Amtrak has confirmed that 78 passengers and five crew were on board the train, which was making its first ever journey along a new inland, high-speed route designed to cut travel times between the two Washington cities by 10 minutes. The derailment occurred on part of this new section, which is a bypass route that runs along I-5.
Photos from scene of amtrak passenger train derailment pic.twitter.com/gd09MzLCC6
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) December 18, 2017
More photos from scene of Amtrak train derailment pic.twitter.com/yWEJejp1H2
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) December 18, 2017
The train’s last known speed before the derailment was 81 miles per hour, according to Amtrak’s real-time location service. This appears to be at the top end of the speeds the trains are designed to reach, as the goal of using this bypass was to have the trains operate at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour.
#Amtrak train 501 last known speed before derailment was 81mph according to their real-time location service. pic.twitter.com/Tm1qgQKPGX
— Ben Dery (@BenDeryKING5) December 18, 2017
The extent of injuries and fatalities is not yet known. Current reporting indicates at least three passengers died in the crash, though no motorists appear to have died.
Update: At least 3 dead after Amtrak train derails from bridge onto Interstate 5 near Olympia https://t.co/LHP2ZzeAG8
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) December 18, 2017
BREAKING: Pierce County Det. Ed Troyer: Confirmed fatalities, major injuries, ppl being transferred to hospital, ppl still trapped on the train. Don't know cause of derailment.
— Colleen O'Brien (@ColleenKIROFM) December 18, 2017
Several cars on I5 struck by derailed Amtrak train cars. Multiple motorists injured on roadway, no fatalities of motorists reported.
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) December 18, 2017
Amtrak has asked those concerned about friends or family aboard Train 501 to call 1-800-523-9101. Further service along the line has been canceled, and Washington State Police are working to divert traffic from the area.
This was what all the passengers received before the @Amtrak ride. On the very first day, the very first ride, the train derailed. pic.twitter.com/YLgtDwrHnH
— Alex Rozier (@AlexRozierK5) December 18, 2017
This is Amtrak’s fifth accident since 2015, and the third to result in fatalities. An Amtrak train derailed in Philadelphia in 2015, killing eight and injuring 200. Another train struck and killed two track workers in Chester, Pennsylvania, in 2016, also injuring 41 passengers. Other Amtrak trains derailed without deaths in Halifax, North Carolina, in 2015 and Cimarron, Kansas, in 2016.
Photos via Pierce County Sheriff
Photos via Pierce County Sheriff
Written by Alasdair Wilkins
More articles by Alasdair • Follow Alasdair on Twitter
More From Inverse
How Airships Like the Airlander 10 Could Replace Cargo Planes in Just Years
Watch This 2 Million Pound 'Pressure Vessel' Travel Canada's 'Highway of Death'
Christmas Trees Feel Pain, Talk to Other Trees Because Plants Are Smart
Supersonic Jet "The Antipode" Could Go from New York to Dubai in 22 Minutes
eBay's Pierre Omidyar's Philanthropic Firm to Invest $350 Million in India