{"id":43536,"date":"2018-03-01T11:29:55","date_gmt":"2018-03-01T16:29:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smart-union.org\/?p=43536"},"modified":"2018-03-01T11:29:55","modified_gmt":"2018-03-01T16:29:55","slug":"ntsb-releases-report-on-amtrak-csx-collision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smart-union.org\/ntsb-releases-report-on-amtrak-csx-collision\/","title":{"rendered":"NTSB releases report on Amtrak\/CSX collision","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"On February 4, 2018, southbound Amtrak train 91, operating on a track warrant, diverted from the main track through a hand-thrown switch into a siding and collided head-on with stationary CSX Transportation local freight train F777 03 on the CSX Columbia Subdivision in Cayce, S.C.<\/p>\n

The engineer and conductor of the Amtrak train died as a result of the collision and at least 92 passengers and crewmembers on the Amtrak train were transported to medical facilities. The engineer of the stopped CSX train had exited the lead locomotive before the Amtrak train entered the siding, ran to safety, and was not injured. The conductor of the CSX lead locomotive saw the Amtrak train approaching in the siding and ran to the back of locomotive. The conductor was thrown off the locomotive and sustained minor injuries.<\/p>\n

The normal method of train operation on the subdivision was a traffic control system with wayside signals. Signal indications authorize movement in either direction. On the day before the accident, CSX signal personnel suspended the traffic control signal system to install updated traffic control system components for implementing positive train control (PTC) on the subdivision. During the suspension, scheduled to last through February 4, 2018, dispatchers would use track warrants to move trains through absolute blocks in the work territory.<\/p>\n

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators inspected the track structure, signal system and mechanical equipment; collected and are examining records for operations, signal systems, mechanical equipment, and track and engineering; and interviewed train crewmembers, train dispatchers and other personnel from CSX and Amtrak. In addition, investigators are reviewing the emergency response to the accident. Members of the NTSB investigative team traveled to Jacksonville, Fla., to investigate the dispatching aspects of the accident, to test the CSX signal system and to conduct additional interviews.<\/p>\n

While on-scene, NTSB investigators located and removed the undamaged event data recorder from the destroyed Amtrak locomotive. The event data recorder was successfully downloaded and an initial review of the data revealed the following information:<\/p>\n