Happening Now
The Latest Updates on Train #188
May 15, 2015
Details about the Train #188 Incident
The NARP team was front and center in the wake of the tragic Amtrak Train #188’s derailment in Philadelphia on May 12. President and CEO Jim Mathews appeared on NPR’s “The Diane Rehm Show” and CBS Baltimore, while VP Sean Jeans-Gail appeared on “CNN Newsroom.”
Below are more links to Media Coverage of Train #188
National Journal - White House: Republicans Have Blocked Investments in Amtrak
Al Jazeera America - Amtrak says it needs billions to meet ‘state of good repair’
USA Today - On Amtrak train, where were automatic brakes? Our view
Los Angeles Times - Engineer in Philadelphia train crash has long advocated for rail safety
Philly.com - Railroads must adopt 'train control' system now
PBS Newshour - How safe is rail travel in the United States?
The Hill - Crash revives push for automated trains
Washington Post - The future of train safety lies in drones
CNN Money - What's the safest way to travel
Rachel Maddow Show - ‘This is on Congress’ head’
Time - How the Amtrak Crash Is Hurting the U.S. Economy
New Yorker - The plot against trains
CBS Money - Where will America's rail system get its funding?
The Week - Despite the Amtrak crash, trains are still an incredibly safe way to travel
May 14, 2015
Philadelphia Transportation Alternatives
Although there is currently no Amtrak service between Philadelphia and New York, other transportation options are available. Click here to see them.
For Immediate Release (#15-09) Contact: Ms. Benét J. Wilson
May 13, 2015 202-408-8362
NARP Expresses Condolences In The Wake Of Derailment Tragedy
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Association of Railroad Passengers today issued the following statement:
The thoughts and prayers of NARP and its 28,000 members nationwide are with the passengers and crew of Amtrak Regional Train 188, which derailed last night in Philadelphia. The association offers its heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed and its sympathies and support to everyone who was injured.
NARP President & CEO Jim Mathews, a former volunteer firefighter and medic, also expressed his gratitude for the efforts of first responders on the scene who worked throughout the night to free the injured and to save lives.
"While NARP will continue to push ahead for a bipartisan, constructive and meaningful debate on the appalling infrastructure investment crisis facing America, today is not the time to push or to speculate on what might have gone wrong," Mathews said. "Today at the top of all of our minds should be the injured passengers; the families of those killed; the dedicated front-line Amtrak employees who strive every day to operate a safe trip for their customers; and the brave men and women who saved so many lives last night."
Safety is always the first concern for any transportation system. Investigators are at the scene in Philadelphia now, and NARP is looking forward to learning more details as they become available from the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Railroad Administration and Amtrak.
NARP will make available a resource page for its members and the general public looking for information on service disruptions and alternative arrangements.
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Below is a story from the "Morning Joe" show on MSNBC. In it, New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio, a Democrat, and Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, a Republican, spoke about the need for major infrastructure improvements, including rail. The pair were in Washington, D.C., for events scheduled around Infrastructure Week.
Key Data Points and Links to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics and the Federal Rail Administration
- Passenger train accidents per million passenger train miles have gone down, from 2.29 in Calendar Year 2006 to 1.24 in CY 2014, down 54 percent.
DOT Railroad Passenger Saftey Data
DOT National Transportation Statistics
FRA Train Accidents By Rail Groups
Rail Resources in the Northeast Corridor
Metro-North Railroad (New York)
SEPTA (Philadelphia)
Former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell is interviewed by Joe Scarborough about the accident and the need to step up efforts to invest in infrastructure.
Links to Media Coverage of Train #188, Updated
ADDED MAY 14
CNN: Philadelphia mayor rips Amtrak train engineer; NTSB official fires back
US News & World Report: READ: 'Amtrak Joe' Biden Responds to Philadelphia Train Derailment
NPR: Positive Train Control: The Tech That Could've Prevented Amtrak Derailment
New Yorker: Amtrak Trains May Be Sort of Empty Today, But They’re Still As Safe As Ever
New York magazine: Could Better Infrastructure Have Prevented the Amtrak Crash?
May 13
MSNBC: Crash renews calls for infrastructure spending
Bloomberg: Amtrak Crash Shows Need for More U.S. Transit Money, Mayors Say
NBC News: 'It got dark really quick': Former Congressman Rider recalls scene
NBC News: Cranes work to right derailed train cars
ABC 6: Mayor Michael Nutter gives an update on the Amtrak train derailment
CNN: 'Within two minutes it was chaos': Amtrak passengers recall derailment'
NY Times: Latest Updates: Amtrak Derailment in Philadelphia
Washington Post: Why Amtrak trains derail
Washington Post: What does Amtrak derailment mean for riders traveling from DC to NY?
"It is an honor to be recognized by the Rail Passengers Association for my efforts to strengthen and expand America’s passenger rail. Golden spikes were once used by railroads to mark the completion of important rail projects, so I am truly grateful to receive the Golden Spike Award as a way to mark the end of a career that I’ve spent fighting to invest in our country’s rail system. As Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, it has been my priority to bolster funding for Amtrak, increase and expand routes, look to the future by supporting high-speed projects, and improve safety, culminating in $66 billion in new funding in the Bipartisan infrastructure Law."
Representative Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
March 30, 2022, on receiving the Association's Golden Spike Award for his years of dedication and commitment to passenger rail.
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