MNRR -- 2 train collision apparent sideswipe

[blue streak 1]

Evidently an  eastbound MNRR derailed into a west bound MNRR with 60 injuries but no fatalities.

http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/connecticut/two-trains-collide-in-bridgeport#.UZa3h8qHNCc

This is a location where traffic is down to 2 tracks due to CAT and bridge work. Will post more in this post as I get other news reports . Saw one picture that seemed to show it was 2 M-8 trains.Crumple zone appears to have worked.

edit #1.  Here is a fairly good 3/4 picture of the accident

http://www.telegram.com/article/20130517/NEWS/130519694/1116

 Edit #2 -- here is Amtrak bulletin.  Read somewhere that MNRR does not expect to restore service until sometime Monday ?  Interlocking is involved maybe requiring temporary straight railing 2 inservice tracks .  Note two other tracks out of service.

 http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Alert_C&pagename=am/AM_Alert_C/Alerts_Popup&cid=1251623834748

Edit #3  --  Here a NY times picture that can be blown up uning ctrl +

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/18/nyregion/metro-north-train-collision-in-connecticut.html?hp&_r=1&

Edit  #4  --  WCBS has several pictures.  Click on the breaking news banner

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/05/17/metro-north-trains-involved-in-major-derailment-injuries-reported/

Edit  #5  --   WABC has video and states Conn governor says 5 critical and one very critical

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/northern_suburbs&id=9106811

Edit #6  a poor report by NBC

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/northern_suburbs&id=9106811

Edit  #7 --  probe begins

http://news.yahoo.com/probe-begins-conn-commuter-trains-crash-070249473.html

Edit #8  --  Good aerial view showing it as a sideswipe ?

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2013/05/18/raw-train-derailment-aerials.wabc#/video/bestoftv/2013/05/18/raw-train-derailment-aerials.wabc

 

 

[blue streak 1]

probe beginss

http://news.yahoo.com/probe-begins-conn-commuter-trains-crash-070249473.html

Casulty list still has no one killed.

[Overmod]

There is a thread on this accident in General Discussion.  Interestingly, so far there is very little overlap.

As noted by IGN:  The GPS coordinates are 41.16758, -73.21658.  It's interesting to see the extent of the bridge work that was going on at the time Google's satellite imagery was recorded.

BTW, what kind of engineer puts a double crossover on a skew bridge?  Ballasted-deck or not?

[blue streak 1]

New aerial that appears to show it as a sideswipe.  Some reporsts state that east bound derailed into the side of the west bound but that still has to be deermined for sure.  This aerial shows the 2 tracks on the south have the bridge completely removed as well as the CAT so no quick moving to the 2 south tracks ?

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2013/05/18/raw-train-derailment-aerials.wabc#/video/bestoftv/2013/05/18/raw-train-derailment-aerials.wabc

 

[blue streak 1]

NY Times shows some tweets.

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/17/images-from-connecticut-train-derailment/

 

 

[blue streak 1]

A broken rail has been found at accident site and will be investigated.

http://news.yahoo.com/official-broken-rail-eyed-conn-train-crash-220910803.html

 

[blue streak 1]

Some clean up now proceeding

http://news.yahoo.com/probe-conn-train-crash-giving-way-cleanup-065132312.html

[blue streak 1]

MNRR is planning to institute some kind of bus bridge around the derailment.

http://new.mta.info/mta-statement-cleanup-metro-north-derailment

 

[John WR]

Amtrak should do the same thing.  It is an obvious temporary solution to get around the area of the accident.  Perhaps they will.  

[blue streak 1]

John WR

Amtrak should do the same thing.  It is an obvious temporary solution to get around the area of the accident.  Perhaps they will.  

Perhaps MNRR chaartered all the available buses.  Amtrak's web site says passengers ot NH can go to GCT on MNRR.

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Alert_C&pagename=am/AM_Alert_C/Alerts_Popup&cid=1251623842138

 

[John WR]

Thanks, Streak.  I checked the Amtrak webside but didn't notice the suggestion.  It will be kind of like the old days when almost all New Haven trains went to Grand Central Terminal.  

John

[blue streak 1]

John WR

Thanks, Streak.  I checked the Amtrak webside but didn't notice the suggestion.  It will be kind of like the old days when almost all New Haven trains went to Grand Central Terminal.  

John

 Paragraph #3

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Alert_C&pagename=am/AM_Alert_C/Alerts_Popup&cid=1251623842138

[John WR]

blue streak 1

Paragraph #3

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Alert_C&pagename=am/AM_Alert_C/Alerts_Popup&cid=1251623842138

Right.  

[blue streak 1]

MNRR trying to be open has released 24 pictures of the repair work

http://web.mta.info/mnr/NewHaven/new-haven-line-recovery.html

If this had been NJ Transit think NJT would do the some thing ?   Yeah sure ?

[daveklepper]

See the stay in ny thread for how MN and Amtrak rose to the challange of moving the people.   And regular service Wendesday!

[John WR]

Of course Metro North has every reason to be proud of its efforts.  

[blue streak 1]

MNRR announced that service GCT - NHV will begin with the 307 PM departure from GCT on a 1/2 thre normal service.  NHV - GCT will start about then with normal interval service which seems o indicate that many train sets were stranded in NHV ?

Although Amtrak has not released a bulletin te 4PM Acela to NYP - BOS and all sussequent trains are listed and open for reservations.

[henry6]

I have often held NJT in high esteem but Sandy tarnished that image.   MNRR has flown to the top of the list  in the wake of Friday's derailment by announcing today, Tuesday, that  one of the two tracks will allow limited service through to New Haven beginning with the 3:07 GCT departure this afternoon; Amtrak says they will dispatch a train to Boston at 4PM from NYP and 3:10 west from Boston.  There will be limited services through this evening with full services for both MNRR and Amtrak on Wed.  This shows how much MNRR management understand their railroad and the commitment to service and not just running trains.

[blue streak 1]

A few odds and ends

1.  One track was completed late this morning

2.  Second track expected to complete late tonight.

3.  With one track operation there were delays this evening mostly west bound.

4.  30 MPH speed limit imposed on rebuilt section until further notice.  Anyone know how many tons will need to go over rebuilt section before train speeds can increase ?  will it require another surfacing machine to verify proper alignments ?

5.  NH - SPG  line remains closed due to previously planned unrelated track work until Thursday ?.

6. Some reports have both MNRR trains traveling at 70 MPH ?

[rcdrye]

blue streak 1

A few odds and ends

1.  One track was completed late this morning

2.  Second track expected to complete late tonight.

3.  With one track operation there were delays this evening mostly west bound.

4.  30 MPH speed limit imposed on rebuilt section until further notice.  Anyone know how many tons will need to go over rebuilt section before train speeds can increase ?  will it require another surfacing machine to verify proper alignments ?

5.  NH - SPG  line remains closed due to previously planned unrelated track work until Thursday ?.

6. Some reports have both MNRR trains traveling at 70 MPH ?

Allowing 30 MPH on newly installed track shows a lot of confidence.  Track geometry and overhead adjustment are probably both in play here.

SPG-NHV had only one train scheduled for sevice change this morning. 

[rcdrye]

New MNRR post from this morning says normal speed operation has been restored.

http://web.mta.info/mnr/NewHaven/new-haven-line-recovery.html

[aegrotatio]

When will we be seeing the accident report?

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

aegrotatio

When will we be seeing the accident report?

Probably not for several months.  The NTSB is quite thorough and reviews the evidence carefully before any report for any accident for any form of transportation is released.