Amtrak accident in Philly

[mtraininjax]

Terrible accident in Philly with the Amtrak train. Does anyone know here, surely MJ contributors do, who owns the tracks that the train was travelling on in Philly? Either NSCorp or CSX? They are Concrete Ties and from all accounts, the pictures show that the tracks were still in good shape. Not jumping to conclusions, just trying to see if the rails were a factor.

[Dapperdan]

Its almost always going too fast on a  curve. I bet that is what they find out.

[acme54321]

Sounds about right...

[Lunican]

Amtrak owns the track.

[simms3]

Wow.  Ridden this route a few times.  Train should not be going 80+ until well outside the city.  This is still well within the city, probably 5-10 minutes outside of 30th St station.

Conductor and engineers have a responsibility, and this particular responsibility can't be that difficult, to keep the train at a mere 50-60 mph within the city limits while roaring through neighborhoods and around curves.  Unless there was a mechanical or technological glitch.

Awful tragedy, but glad it wasn't any worse.

[Jumpinjack]

At this very time, Congress preparing to cut Amtrak budget again. Wow.

[thelakelander]

Yeah, this will lead to a derailment....

Amtrak train thought to be going twice as fast as it should have been

(CNN)How do all seven cars and the engine of an Amtrak train jump the rails, sending passengers, luggage, laptops and more flying?

One possibility loomed over all others Wednesday: speed.

Authorities haven't said what caused the derailment of Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 188 in Philadelphia on Tuesday night. But the National Transportation Safety Board said that preliminary data show the train's speed exceeded 100 mph before the derailment. That would be more than twice the 50 mph speed limit for the curve it was in.

The engineer operating the train -- identified to CNN as 32-year-old Brandon Bostian from New York -- applied full emergency brakes "just moments" before the train derailed, said NTSB board member Robert Sumwalt. The train was traveling about 106 mph as it headed into a left turn. The speed limit immediately before the curve was 80 mph, Sumwalt said.

Full article: http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/13/us/philadelphia-amtrak-train-derailment/

[mtraininjax]

Amtrak owns the track.

Yup, thanks! They own a lot of track in the Northeast Corridor too.