Passenger Trains > Cardinal hits pickup truck near Russell, KY

Westbound P051 hit a truck departing from their fuel stop at Russell Yard in Russell, KY. Truck was crossing the Riverside Blvd crossing just west of RJ Cabin (west end of Russell Yard) when they were hit. Track speed for Amtrak is 79mph with a 70mph curve just past the crossing (per a 2005 timetable) so I would say they were close to track speed at impact. No reports of injuries or fatalities yet but not looking good judging by the circumstances.

http://www.wsaz.com/content/news/Train-and-vehicle-collide-in-Greenup-County-Ky-420795503.html

Just heard on the Greenup County scanner feed at 0050 EDT that public safety was "releasing the Amtrak train". Not a long delay by today's standards.

Further scanner feed update: CSX informed at 0104 EDT that they could re-open the railroad. Nothing said on air about injuries/fatalities so far.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/28/17 22:10 by illini73.

Update from WSAZ said one fatality, sole occupant. As reported by crew no injuries on board, gates and lights working at time of incident.

"CSX officials say there were 73 passengers on the train. "

And this is the train that all too many want run DAILY ?

This is kind of a screwy crossing, it has some elevation but has all the lights and gates. We don't know what direction the pickup truck was coming from yet but my guess it was a local and thought they could beat the train which mostly consist of slower moving freight trains coming into or leaving the Russell yard. In the Google map picture with Wurtland Ave in the foreground, the Cardinal would be traveling through the crossing from right to left. Also, if you pan out you will see an overpass above the tracks only a few blocks down but you can save a few moments by taking the grade crossing.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.5505036,-82.7782304,110m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/29/17 05:26 by AKYtrainNut.

joemvcnj Wrote:t
-------------------------------------------------------
> "CSX officials say there were 73 passengers on the
> train. "
>
> And this is the train that all too many want run
> DAILY ?


Um, given that the normal revenue consist these days is, I believe, two coaches and a sleeper (half occupied by crew as a rule), 73 passengers is a pretty full train.

And ridership on the Cardinal is in any case negatively impacted by its three-day schedule. Most travel is RT, and most travelers have good reasons for choosing their dates of travel. If you simply pick a date to go and one to return, there is about a one in ten chance that both dates are days on which the Cardinal is running, meaning that you would likely have to change one or both preference. It's surprising what a nuisance it is. (I know from experience.)

AND once more for the very last time, passenger trains pick up and discharge passengers all along their route. Between Washington and Chicago the Cardinal in point of fact connects exactly 300 city-pairs. The nose-count at the site of the accident is no indication of the popularity or utility of the service.

Not having a proper diner is another negative.

Another reason for quad-gates.

-------!

Any idea on average loads for this train between major city pairs?

Posted from Android

< 73 passengers is a pretty full train >

120 = 2 * 60 seat coaches
18 = 1 * 18 Biz class
17 =~ 12 economy + 1 Handicap + 2 Bedroom

So 73 of 155 is 47% load factor, not pretty full.
We laugh at the Hoosier State for having that many people on board while the Indy - Chicago market is served daily.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/29/17 07:29 by joemvcnj.

Really, guys? Can you take this bickering elsewhere?

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Another reason for quad-gates.
>
> -------!
>
> Any idea on average loads for this train between
> major city pairs?
>
> Posted from Android

Between RJ Cabin and Riverton in downtown Greenup there are four at grade crossings, two unmarked and two gated. Riverside is the first crossing west of RJ and is gated, followed by an overpass (built so people don't have to wait on inbound trains sitting at RJ Cabin), then the DuPont plant crossing, an unmarked crossing to a small neighborhood, and a gated crossing into downtown Greenup. I'm honestly surprised Riverside hasn't been closed by the railroad yet.

No need to  guess ridership. All public  record  at Amtrak.  My experience is  maybe  400 passengers in the  summer  end to end.  Maybe  170 on  board  any   given time.  It  acts like a corridor train Indy to Chicago and  Charlottesville to  Northeast  Corridor.   Light  point  may be  around Huntington.  Sleepers (er) often sold out. As are  coaches.   Of  course Holidays and  summer  fill her up!!

badgerexpat --
Thank you very much for your excellent and
well-reasoned post. Took the words right
outta my brain!

ALL long-distance trains should run at least daily,
and ALL of them should have full-service diners.
Excellent transportation is an essential human service
and should be provided for everyone. Period.

Plenty of money is always found for all projects that
the rich and powerful support, so there really is money
for all essential human services.

msullivan1993 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Really, guys? Can you take this bickering
> elsewhere?
>
> Lackawanna484 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Another reason for quad-gates.
> >
> > -------!
> >
> > Any idea on average loads for this train
> between
> > major city pairs?
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
(SNIP)

What kind of nonsense is this?

I asked a question about ridership between major city pairs.

That's not bickering

51 arrived into CHI 57 minutes late. While it only had 72 passengers on board in Ashland, it topped out at Manassas with 196 passengers on board (170 in coach, 26 in sleeper or business class).

It topped out a second time at Rensselaer at 148 on board, 117 in coach and 31 in sleeper or business class. Train had three 59 seat coaches, one Viewliner sleeper and a 18 seat business class car. The train was never totally sold out but came close at Manassas.

Traditionally, the weakest segment of the Cardinal route is Huntington, WV to Indianapolis.

Train 50 tonight has 130 passengers boarding in CVS Sunday evening. This happens often and blocks passengers wanting to travel further. Train 50 tops out tonight at only 111 total passengers out of Chicago, but 201 passengers at Charlottesville tomorrow afternoon.

The numbers on the western end if the route are a but weak now, but will pick up in a few weeks.

Posted from Android

Thanks for the info. I understood that the "middle" section was the weakest.

Posted from Android

As I have always suspected, all it takes is one more Regional train sent down to Lynchburg, AM south, PM north, and that pretty much ends any need to send the Cardinal north of Washington and would likely have as few or fewer transfers to a NEC train at DC as the Capitol Ltd. O & D analysis makes that quite clear.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/30/17 07:31 by joemvcnj.