Feds promise ‘thorough investigation’ of Amtrak crash

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx promised to conduct a “thorough investigation” of an Amtrak derailment on Tuesday night that killed six passengers. 

Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 188 was traveling from Washington, D.C. to New York on Tuesday night when derailed near Philadelphia. 

The train was carrying 238 passengers and five crew members at the time of the accident, according to Amtrak officials. Six people were killed and more than 100 injured in the crash. 

{mosads}Foxx said he is “deeply saddened” by the Amtrak accident. 

“A tragic accident occurred tonight,” he said in a statement. “While there is still much we don’t know, we at the U.S. Department of Transportation are deeply saddened by reports of multiple fatalities and injuries. Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims’ families. We urge the public to allow time for first responders to do their critical work. DOT officials are already onsite, and we will work with NTSB to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of this devastating event.”

Amtrak officials said they are also saddened by the accident. 

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of life from Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 188 that derailed north of Philadelphia Tuesday evening,” the company said in a statement. “We ask the news media to be respectful of our customers, our employees, and their families.” 

The company said it has “established a Family Assistance Center to work closely with family and friends of individuals on the train.” 

“Local emergency responders are on the scene and an investigation is ongoing,” Amtrak said. 

Amtrak said its service between New York and Philadelphia would be suspended on Wednesday and its service on the rest of the popular northeast corridor would be modified. 

“There will be no Amtrak service between New York and Philadelphia, but New Jersey Transit will honor Amtrak tickets between New York City and Trenton,” the company said. “Other Amtrak Service between New York and Albany-Rensselaer; New Haven and Springfield, Mass., and other points will operate.” 

The northeast corridor is home to Amtrak’s most heavily-traveled routes, including the New York to Philadelphia service that has been affected by Tuesday’s crash. Amtrak has said 11.6 million of its 30.9 million passengers last year took trips on trains operating in the Northeast Corridor, compared to 14.6 million on shorter state-specific routes and 4.5 million on long-distance trains.