Passenger Trains > NEC Suspended at D.C. - 2 dead

2 struck at 1200 block of New York Ave.

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Two-Struck-by-Amtrak-Killed-in-Northeast-DC-431225783.html

Posted from iPhone

Something strange about this story doesn't add up.

"In addition to the two people who died, D.C. Fire and EMS, D.C. Fire also tells WTOP a railroad employee was taken to the hospital."

Train 175 was due in DC a little after 11p, yet this morning all service is still suspended 8 hours later after a supposed simple tressspasser strike.

http://wtop.com/dc/2017/06/amtrak-marc-delays-after-train-fatality/

Posted from iPhone

Two CSX employees were fatally injured. Conductor and Conductor trainee. While walking there train.

Posted from iPhone

CSXT and Amtrak run side by side in this area. Each has a set of double tracks

Posted from Android

Temporary Service Suspension Between Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia
Some cancelations along the Northeast Corridor
June 28, 2017
4:30 a.m. ET

Amtrak trains will not be able to operate for the start of the morning rush-hour period between Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia due to a temporary track closure. Police are working to complete their investigation of a fatal incident involving two pedestrians who were on the tracks in D.C.
Amtrak customers should use Amtrak.com or mobile apps to check the status of their trains as the closure has led to some cancelations along the Northeast Corridor.
Amtrak will update this statement by or before 7:00 a.m. ET.
Amtrak regrets any inconvenience. This information is correct as of the above time and date. Information is subject to change as conditions warrant.
Anyone can subscribe to automated email or text message notifications if Amtrak trains are behind schedule at specific stations. Notifications can be given for up to six trains and stations by either text or email and delivered when you choose - on a single day, every day, or just certain days of the week. Create a subscription at Amtrak.com/delayalerts.

Passengers with travel plans also can confirm their train's status, change their plans or review refund information using a range of tools – including Amtrak.com, smartphone apps or by calling 800-USA-RAIL. Service Alerts, Passenger Notices and other announcements are posted at Amtrak.com/alerts.

To be notified of service disruptions on the Northeast Corridor (including Acela Express, Northeast Regional and other corridor services), follow @AmtrakNEC on Twitter.

mp208 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CSXT and Amtrak run side by side in this area.
> There is a little brush between the two sets of
> double tracks
>
> Posted from Android

Very sad situation. Condolences to family and friends.

Update: Temporary Service Suspension Between Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia
Some cancelations along the Northeast Corridor
June 28, 2017
7:00 a.m. ET

Federal and local authorities say their investigation of an incident north of Washington, D.C., last night is not yet complete. Therefore, Amtrak service between Washington and Philadelphia remains disrupted due to a temporary track closure.
Amtrak has been told to expect service restoration by mid-morning. In the meantime, Amtrak customers should use Amtrak.com or mobile apps to check the status of their trains as the closure has led to some cancelations along the Northeast Corridor.
When service is restored, residual delays are expected.
Amtrak regrets any inconvenience. This information is correct as of the above time and date. Information is subject to change as conditions warrant.
Anyone can subscribe to automated email or text message notifications if Amtrak trains are behind schedule at specific stations. Notifications can be given for up to six trains and stations by either text or email and delivered when you choose - on a single day, every day, or just certain days of the week. Create a subscription at Amtrak.com/delayalerts.

Passengers with travel plans also can confirm their train's status, change their plans or review refund information using a range of tools – including Amtrak.com, smartphone apps or by calling 800-USA-RAIL. Service Alerts, Passenger Notices and other announcements are posted at Amtrak.com/alerts.

To be notified of service disruptions on the Northeast Corridor (including Acela Express, Northeast Regional and other corridor services), follow @AmtrakNEC on Twitter.

The first linked article is now reporting that
service between Washington, DC and Philadelphia, PA
has been restored. However, trains are running
at restricted speed.

My prayers and condolences to all who have been
affected by this tragic accident.

Acela #2154, leaving WAS at 8:57 am, is the first northbound departure I can find.
No times are shown for earlier trains #190, #170, #2150 and #2100.
Andy

Allowing an investigation to tie up critical infrastructure such as the NEC is completely unacceptable. With the frequency of lockdowns and shutdowns accelerating it won't be long before it becomes impossible to ever leave one's house.

mbrotzman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Allowing an investigation to tie up critical
> infrastructure such as the NEC is completely
> unacceptable. With the frequency of lockdowns and
> shutdowns accelerating it won't be long before it
> becomes impossible to ever leave one's house.

It is, but keep in mind everything nowadays is done with expectation of a lawsuit. So have to cross every t and dot every i methodically, which takes a lot more time than years past when you would just handle the scene and move on.

mp208 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CSXT and Amtrak run side by side in this area.
> There is a little brush between the two sets of
> double tracks
>
> Posted from Android

Amtrak's NEC tracks run right next to the CSXT Metropolitan division for about a mile between the New York Avenue overhead bridge (actually "F" interlocking) and a point about a mile north (past Ivy City yard) where they separate. What I find interesting about this story was the fact that two CSXT employees were the ones struck and killed. I assume they were walking a CSXT freight train in emergency as there's no local industries for them to be switching at. If this is the case I wonder if the CSXT dispatcher in Halethrope notified the Amtrak CETC 1 dispatcher in Wilmington of this. The Amtrak train approaching at restricted speed sounding horn and bell would have given the CSXT trainman more time to get out of the way.


3rd Raton - remembering my Amtrak CETC 1 daze ..........

Cole42 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> mbrotzman Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Allowing an investigation to tie up critical
> > infrastructure such as the NEC is completely
> > unacceptable. With the frequency of lockdowns
> and
> > shutdowns accelerating it won't be long before
> it
> > becomes impossible to ever leave one's house.
>
> It is, but keep in mind everything nowadays is
> done with expectation of a lawsuit. So have to
> cross every t and dot every i methodically, which
> takes a lot more time than years past when you
> would just handle the scene and move on.

Yes.

A few years ago, NJ's attorney general issued a directive to medical examiners (as the coroners are called in NJ) and law enforcement following a several hours rush hour shut down of the NEC in Mercer County. All four tracks. Presumed suicide, as the victim's stuff was on the platform.

The ME, the state police, the county police, the local police, the prosecutor, the EMS, the railroads (Amtrak and NJT as it happened near Hamilton station) all had a piece of the crime scene. Everybody wanted their moment in the camera lights. Usual Jersey mess, with everybody claiming jurisdiction.

The AG directed that efforts be made to minimize delays to travelers, consistent with safety for people in and about the crime scene. And designated the ME as the crime scene chief. Until the feds show up, that should work...

mbrotzman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Allowing an investigation to tie up critical
> infrastructure such as the NEC is completely
> unacceptable. With the frequency of lockdowns and
> shutdowns accelerating it won't be long before it
> becomes impossible to ever leave one's house.

And your lack of compasion and thought for the ones that have lost their lives in a terrible accident and your understanding of a legal system that exists today clearly and unacceptably preceeds you.

3rd_Raton Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> mp208 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > CSXT and Amtrak run side by side in this area.
> > There is a little brush between the two sets of
> > double tracks
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
> Amtrak's NEC tracks run right next to the CSXT
> Metropolitan division for about a mile between the
> New York Avenue overhead bridge (actually "F"
> interlocking) and a point about a mile north (past
> Ivy City yard) where they separate. What I find
> interesting about this story was the fact that two
> CSXT employees were the ones struck and killed. I
> assume they were walking a CSXT freight train in
> emergency as there's no local industries for them
> to be switching at. If this is the case I wonder
> if the CSXT dispatcher in Halethrope notified the
> Amtrak CETC 1 dispatcher in Wilmington of this.
> The Amtrak train approaching at restricted speed
> sounding horn and bell would have given the CSXT
> trainman more time to get out of the way.
>
>

In a way, I agree. However, if the CSX train was in emergency, why were they not protecting the adjacent track? That's Railroad 050. It should occur BEFORE walking the train.

Whatever did we do before CTC and radio? Train any time any track any direction? In case of doubt or uncertainty the safe course must be taken? Doesn't that come down to if you don't KNOW that there is no train on a track, you don't foul that track. For example, if sight distance is a mile on 100 mph track, you have 30 seconds during which you know that there is no train.

TAW

Confirmed information about the CSX employees struck and killed by Amtrak 175(27):

CSX Train Q137-27 westbound had triggered the defect detector at Laurel and train stopped on CSX Capitol Sub while crossing between tracks, with head end in Track 2. They had completed inspection of their train and were walking back to the head end when struck...so Amtrak 175 would have been approaching them from behind.

TAW Wrote:
>
> In a way, I agree. However, if the CSX train was
> in emergency, why were they not protecting the
> adjacent track? That's Railroad 050. It should
> occur BEFORE walking the train.
>
> Whatever did we do before CTC and radio? Train any
> time any track any direction? In case of doubt or
> uncertainty the safe course must be taken? Doesn't
> that come down to if you don't KNOW that there is
> no train on a track, you don't foul that track.
> For example, if sight distance is a mile on 100
> mph track, you have 30 seconds during which you
> know that there is no train.

This is correct. You protect yourself. You don't depend on a train dispatcher or anyone else to protect you. You keep looking around and you have your escape route planned. To use TAW's example, 30 seconds is plenty of time to clear, if you're keeping your guard up and you have a route in mind to clear the track you're fouling.

Further, if this had happened almost anywhere else other than along New York Avenue in Washington, DC, I don't think it would have taken as long to reopen the tracks. If it had happened on the Coast Line or on the Chicago-St. Louis line or in south Florida, it wouldn't have taken nearly as long to reopen the tracks. But this is in Washington, so everybody from every agency showed up to claim some time. Thousands of DC commuters on MARC and thousands of Amtrak passengers from Washington to New York and Boston had cancelled trains because of something that doesn't seem like it should take 10 hours or more to investigate and reopen the tracks.
>
> TAW



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/17 09:30 by knotch8.

It is hard to conceive that an experienced CSX trainman properly qualified on the railroad where working would not know that the adjacent track does not belong to his railroad. But if he assumed that, he would have thought he was protected and thus would not have notified his dispatcher to advise Amtrak of a hazardous condition. Even if he had made the notification, time would lapse as CSX figures out whom to call, makes the call to Amtrak, Amtrak calls the involved CTEC desk, which broadcasts to the trains in the vicinity. Since the CSX crew had already inspected their train and was returning to their head end, that time delay should not have figured into the unfortunate result. What is, or is not on the dispatch tapes will tell.


> > > CSXT and Amtrak run side by side in this
> area.
> > > There is a little brush between the two sets
> of
> > > double tracks
> > >
> > > Posted from Android
> >
> > Amtrak's NEC tracks run right next to the CSXT
> > Metropolitan division for about a mile between
> the
> > New York Avenue overhead bridge (actually "F"
> > interlocking) and a point about a mile north
> (past
> > Ivy City yard) where they separate. What I find
> > interesting about this story was the fact that
> two
> > CSXT employees were the ones struck and killed.
> I
> > assume they were walking a CSXT freight train
> in
> > emergency as there's no local industries for
> them
> > to be switching at. If this is the case I
> wonder
> > if the CSXT dispatcher in Halethrope notified
> the
> > Amtrak CETC 1 dispatcher in Wilmington of this....

TAW:

> In a way, I agree. However, if the CSX train was
> in emergency, why were they not protecting the
> adjacent track? That's Railroad 050. It should
> occur BEFORE walking the train.
>
> Whatever did we do before CTC and radio? Train any
> time any track any direction? In case of doubt or
> uncertainty the safe course must be taken? Doesn't
> that come down to if you don't KNOW that there is
> no train on a track, you don't foul that track.
> For example, if sight distance is a mile on 100
> mph track, you have 30 seconds during which you
> know that there is no train.
>
> TAW

mbrotzman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Allowing an investigation to tie up critical
> infrastructure such as the NEC is completely
> unacceptable. With the frequency of lockdowns and
> shutdowns accelerating it won't be long before it
> becomes impossible to ever leave one's house.

how do u KNOW it is unacceptable????????

66

I take exception to your lack of compassion. The dead are dead and while that is a tragedy no amount of compassion will change that. The compassion is for the living. There were close to 300 people on that train who were literally 2000 feet from going home. They got held hostage for over 5 hours while the FRA and NTSB wandered around looking at things. That I view as approaching torture for them, and a complete lack of compassion on the part of the officials. Then there was all the people who got stranded behind them on the RR with no way out in the wee small hours of the morning.

The train isn't stopped at the point of the incident, it is a ways down the track so running into the station and letting the people go doesn't effect the incident scene. Since the train is not at the incident scene, moving it is a viable option. After the people are off it and it is empty you can eyeball the equipment all you want and even back it up to the accident site if you want. Won't change the evidence at all. Even the download of the event recorder happens later.


jst3751 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> mbrotzman Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Allowing an investigation to tie up critical
> > infrastructure such as the NEC is completely
> > unacceptable. With the frequency of lockdowns
> and
> > shutdowns accelerating it won't be long before
> it
> > becomes impossible to ever leave one's house.
>
> And your lack of compasion and thought for the
> ones that have lost their lives in a terrible
> accident and your understanding of a legal system
> that exists today clearly and unacceptably
> preceeds you.