Amtrak train derailed in Montana - three dead several injured

[malaise]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/09/25/amtrak-derailment-injuries-train-derails-montana/5871780001/

At least three people were killed Saturday afternoon when an Amtrak train that runs between Seattle and Chicago derailed in north-central Montana, toppling several cars onto their sides, authorities said.

The westbound Empire Builder train derailed about 4 p.m. near Joplin, a town of about 200, Amtrak spokesman Jason Abrams said in a statement. The accident scene is about 150 miles (241 kilometers) northeast of Helena and about 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the border with Canada.

Liberty County sheriff's dispatcher Starr Tyler told The Associated Press that three people died in the derailment. She did not have more details. Amtrak said in a statement that there were multiple injuries.

The train had about 141 passengers and 16 crew members onboard, Abrams said. The train had two locomotives and 10 cars, eight of which derailed, he said.

[NurseJackie]

1. I wish the US had better passenger train service.

[Hiawatha Pete]

2. As someone who has traveled approx 200,000 miles on both Amtrak & VIA ...

I can tell you that Amtrak has very good service.

The trains might not be quite as fast as European trains (which I've also ridden),
but the network and service frequencies tend to be far more extensive than what exists north of the border here in Canada.

I for one find it odd that this derailment seems to have occurred near a grade crossing with Hwy 2 rather than anywhere else on the Empire Builder's 2,000 mile route (though it will be hard to speculate what the cause was until the NTSB releases their findings)

Last time an Amtrak western long distance train derailed was in 2016 & was due to track damage caused by an agricultural vehicle (ie not the fault of the railroad but an idiot heavy vehicle operator)

Railways have virtually eliminated derailments by human error after the implementation of positive train control nationwide: https://abc7chicago.com/amtrak-derailment-joplin-montana-mt/11049520/

My wife & I look forward to the day when covid gets under control, the border opens, and we can once again ride Amtrak knowing we will be orders of magnitude safer than driving a car.

Cheers!
Pete. Website owner https://northamericabyrail.info/

[NurseJackie]

3. Nor are American trains as smooth and quiet...

The trains might not be quite as fast as European trains (which I've also ridden),

It's not just speed. The ride on American trains is not as smooth and quiet compared to what we've traveled on in the UK, France, Germany, Austria...

Additionally, Amtrack's facilities are typically run-down, in disrepair, and out of date... or minimal and cheap (I've seen better Greyhound stations.) The cars have an odor and aren't kept as clean or tidy. The lavs on-board leave much to be desired. Service in all classes is perfunctory.

Although Amtrack may get you there, there's nothing special about it and it always seems as though it's just an afterthought and at the bottom of the list of priorities. Perhaps it's because they must share tracks with freight trains that's part of the problem. Freight doesn't need smooth rails, or straight rails... and if there's a single track with a slow-moving mile-long freight train... everyone waits.

orders of magnitude safer than driving a car.

That part is not in question. I never felt unsafe (except at Union Station in DC.) I can only imagine the shock and horror (or disgust) that European visitors must feel when experiencing US trains... as well as DC's Metro... for the first time.

Honestly, I never knew how bad it was in the US until I experienced a month of riding on London's Underground system and the various S and U bahn public transportation rail services in Germany. Easy to get accustomed to... quite a culture-shock moment when returning to the US.

I enjoyed looking at your website.

[Hiawatha Pete]

4. Thanks for checking out my website! I agree that improvements can be made.

In Europe, the rail system (as well as local transit) is treated as an equal to other modes like roads & highways when it comes to gov't investment.

In the US (and Canada), not so much:
(Road/air subsidies: huge, growing & safe; Amtrak’s are small, shrinking & attacked)
http://allaboardohio.org/2012/09/21/road-air-subsidies-huge-growing-safe-amtraks-are-small-shrinking-attacked/

Biden is trying to change that. Obama already started on that path, with the acquisition of hundreds of new sleeping & dining cars for Amtrak's eastern routes. We've ridden them and they are actually quite nice.

It would have been interesting to see what could have been accomplished without that GOP millstone around the neck of society (and not just regarding transit...)

For our part we always found the train far more tidy than a bus, and the service usually good but we've had the odd miserable attendant who should maybe reconsider another line of work.

Amtrak (Unlike VIA Rail Canada ) actually does have dispatching priority over freights and can (and does) take the freight RR's to the Surface Transportation Board when they fail to honor their commitments.
https://smart-union.org/news/narp-enters-supreme-court-case-on-behalf-of-amtrak/

Thanks again!

[Hiawatha Pete]

5. P.S. Also BTW, Trudeau is trying improve rail service too

With a new 200km/h (125 mph) dedicated track plan for passenger trains in Ontario and Quebec:
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/high-frequency-train-via-rail-toronto-quebec-city

Not quite as fast as the TGV or Channel Tunnel train - but every bit as fast as the prior British HST125. That's along with a brand new fleet of German designed Siemens locos & cars.

If you are looking to have more than just a trip from point A to point B, VIA Rail Canada does a really good job, IMO, of pitching its Toronto-Vancouver "Canadian" as a hotel on rails for tourists (even though it's also a designated remote essential service). Mind you, it uses the original rolling stock from 1955, which has recently been completely rebuilt & refurbished.

[NurseJackie]

6. On Britbox streaming service, there are a couple of train videos that I've enjoyed watching.

It's just a camera (actually cameras, plural) mounted to the outside of the train showing different views as it travels through the English countryside. Occasionally, there is a drone-camera that shows the view from overhead... but it's mostly from the conductor's view.

I could watch it for hours. It's very soothing and relaxing and easy to fall asleep to.

[Hiawatha Pete]

7. Might be something to look into if it's available here (Britbox)

...considering my wife's affinity for watching Midsommer Murders

Sorry for the long replies btw...I could go on forever when it comes to trains & transit.

Regards,

Pete

[NurseJackie]

8. I'm in the US and I stream Britbox on my Roku device.

My husband and I watched EVERY episode of Midsommer on Britbox... but the show appears to be taking a bit of break from the Britbox platform (previously, all seasons and episodes were available, but now it's just the most recent season.)

It's now streaming on Amazon and Acorn (a Britbox-style competitor).

[NurseJackie]

9. PS... Have you visited this museum?

My husband and I enjoyed it very much. It's one of those "I've lived here half a lifetime and never got around to visiting" places. But it was very interesting.

https://www.borail.org/

[Hiawatha Pete]

10. Funny you should mention that-never been, but the B&O museum is on my bucket list

of railroad museums for sure.

We would like to do a trip from Buffalo - NYC - New Orleans by train, and since it's one of the stops along the route between NYC & DC - that would be a good opportunity for a stopover in Baltimore to visit the museum.

Tons of interesting equipment for the rail fan to see there -Thanks for the tip!