Railroad Accident Report - Train Accident Involving Amtrak Passenger Train No. 225 and Amtrak Work Extra No. 4934, Linden, New Jersey, July 9, 1980

摘要

About 6:30 p.m., on July 9, 1980, westbound Amtrak passenger train No. 225 was struck by a 15-foot section of rail that had been protruding from the side of a railcar on Work Extra No. 4934, an eastbound continuous welded rail train, at Linden, New Jersey. The rail penetrated the first car of the passenger train, struck and killed one passenger, and injured 17 others. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the track supervisor to instruct the maintenance crew and the failure of the crewmembers of Work Extra No. 4934 to remove and secure loose buffer rails when the train was being prepared for movement. Contributing to the accident were the failure of Amtrak to provide comprehensive instructions for unloading rails and the failure of Amtrak to provide qualified personnel to direct the unloading of continuous welded rail.