Derailed Amtrak train plunges off bridge onto I-5 lanes south of Tacoma

KOMONews.com ^ | Monday, December 18th 2017 | by KOMO Staff

[Flick Lives]

The train had just begun using a new high-speed route Monday morning. Lakewood city oficials had earlier expressed fears that the new route would cause serious accidents.

On Google Maps, it looks like the railway line makes a bend as it passes over highway I-5. Was the track in the condition to handle the higher speed on the bend?

https://goo.gl/maps/NbdRtsxPwdm

[Delta 21]

Ooops.

[Professional]

Very close to my house. I’m not surprised at this, the work was sloppy. They’ve worked for a year to build this new line, today was the first high speed day.

A rr crossing by my house had all the lights up, booms, everything but didn’t work. Trains would pass through and nada...

[Oldeconomybuyer]

[RitchieAprile]

we should be looking closely at how Japan Rail operates its high speed trains. their trains are fast safe and on time.

I wonder if amtrak did a test run. JR uses an instrumented
“yellow train” to test rail alignment and train car stability and regularly examine closely the wheels and bogies of their trains. if this had happened in Japan it is not outside the realm of possibility that there would be suicides among the staff responsible due to unbearable shame and remorse.

[ltc8k6]

I think is worse.

The car on I-5 under the bridge is upside down...

[Terry Mross]

I-5 South will be closed for a while.

[Not A Snowbird]

What's that writing on the bridge?

Graffiti. I know that overpass well.

[NautiNurse]

Graphic view of upside down Amtrak car lying across Interstate 5, and clipped tractor trailer.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

CONFIRMED: 70 people were on board when this train derailed @KIRO7Seattle

[Professional]

There are homeless people all up and down this rail line. The line is literally a homeless camp. We have so many drug addicted homeless people crawling up and down i5 and this rail line it’s down right creepy, like the walking dead.

[Terry Mross]

They’re setting up different colored tents indicating different levels of injuries.

[Enchante]

[Not A Snowbird]

Rush hour, praying this was sparsely occupied long distance train, not a commuter.

Fortunate that it was the southbound side, going away from JBLM and Seattle.

[LouieFisk]

Live CBSN news stream:
https://www.cbsnews.com/cbsn

[Halls]

Oh man.

[factoryrat]

Looks like a box girder bridge from the photo I saw.

It depends on who else uses the track. If they share with freight rail, the rails can easily handle a light commuter train at 80mph.

If it’s old track that hasn’t been upgraded, or short line track, I wouldn’t run any passenger trains on at all.

[Semper911]

How is this not in breaking news?

[llevrok]

This one is all steel. However, there is a wood trestle about 200 yards north of where this derailment took place

[DoughtyOne]

Is that gang tagging on the bridge?

Makes me think kids tinkering in the vicinity of the accident.