3 dead, 50 injured, many questions after Amtrak train derails in Montana

[Jilly_in_VA]

Amtrak was joining with federal safety officials Sunday to investigate a Montana train derailment that left at least three people dead and rural communities scrambling to provide food and shelter to the stunned survivors.

The westbound Empire Builder train with 141 passengers and 16 crew members derailed Saturday afternoon near Joplin, a town of less than 200 people just a few miles from the Canadian border. The tragedy occurred as Amtrak was closing out its nationwide, annual Rail Safety Week.

Liberty County sheriff’s dispatcher Starr Tyler confirmed the deaths, saying there also were multiple injuries.

Amtrak spokesman Jason Abrams said eight of the train's 10 cars toppled off the tracks, some of them sitting on their sides when the Seattle-bound train out of Chicago came to a halt.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/09/26/amtrak-train-derailment-montana/5874081001/
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INFRASTRUCTURE, people! It's not just highways and bridges. And my apologies if this has already been posted, but I did not see it. I would have thought it would be on Latest Breaking News.

[wellst0nev0ter]

1. I see everything's okay with our infrastructure

No massive investment needed, right Manchin? Sinema?

[Klaralven]

2. Previous postings - hardly any discussion

https://democraticunderground.com/100215895639

https://democraticunderground.com/100215895226

[cinematicdiversions]

3. I assume this is a privately held rail line.

I am not sure why it would be included in an infrastructure bill.

[Jilly_in_VA]

4. And that's exactly

what is wrong with US railroads today. Private goddam ownership. No government involvement whatsoever. Unlike the highways.

[Klaralven]

5. I don't think government would like to give up the property taxes paid on rails and right-of-ways

[WhiskeyGrinder]

8. Are you calling for nationalizing railroads?

[Jilly_in_VA]

10. Why not?

Other developed countries have them, why shouldn't we? The private companies are doing a crappy job of running and maintaining them.

[gladium et scutum]

6. BNSF owns the tracks the Amtrack train derailed on. n/t

[WhiskeyGrinder]

7. If you want these tracks improved, then the money goes to a giant corporation, because these

tracks aren't public.

[onethatcares]

11. here in sunny Floriduh

the state is responsible for any and all damages or accidents on railroad right of ways. CSX only gets the income and profit. thank gaud for John Snow and the floriduh legislature.

[Ptah]

9. LBN Sat Sep 25, 2021, 07:15 PM

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142805368