Three dead and multiple injuries as US passenger train derails
The derailment of an Amtrak train near Mendon, Missouri, on Monday afternoon has left three people dead and multiple injured, Amtrak confirmed on Monday evening. The derailment happened following a grade crossing incident with a dump truck.
The truck driver was among the deceased, as were two passengers. The train was travelling from Los Angeles to Chicago with around 275 passengers and 12 crew members onboard. The Amtrak Train 4, comprised of eight cars and two locomotives, derailed almost in its entirety. The service is also known as the Southwest Chief.
The incident happened in a rural part of Missouri. The town of Mendon is home to around 200 people. In rural parts of the US, crossings often do not have lights or crossing rails. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an investigation into the incident. Amtrak on Monday said it would cooperate in full.
Several local media, including NBC affiliate 9news, shared aerial footage of the derailment.
Further reading:
To: Nick Augusteijn, Editor, Rail-Tech:
Taken a recent trip aboard Amtrak in the southeastern United States. My particular southbound trip was just over five (5) hours late.
Much track infrastructure consists of spiked-plates.
If your readership has any influence at Brussels, perhaps they may ask their EC Reps. to promote rail for North America as an alternative to the financing of toll road projects
with more motorway vehicle congestion to an environmentally-sensitive planet.
M Smith
Note: I needed to remove extended greeting, extra comments and closing to fit you limited space requirement