Derailed U.S. train took bend too fast

An Amtrak train that derailed in Washington state was travelling at 130km/h in a 50km/h zone when it plunged off a bridge onto a busy highway, killing at least three people and injuring more than 100

Front engine
Direction of travel
I-5 highway
Rear locomotive

Seattle
06:00 local time (14:00GMT): Train 501 leaves Seattle, heading for Portland
Puget Sound
I-5 
Tacoma
Former train route
DuPont
Olympia I-5
10km 6 miles


Train was on inaugural run on new, shorter, high-speed route

7:34: Train derails. Positive Train Control (PTC) – safety system that automatically warns driver of speed limits and applies brakes if warnings are not heeded – not operational


Sources: National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Washington State Department of Transportation

© GRAPHIC NEWS            Picture: Associated Press