Blumenthal, Murphy on the fatal Amtrak crash in Philadelphia

Departure screen at #nhv Union Station photo by Wes Duplantier

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, D-Conn., released this statement on Tuesday night’s fatal derailment of an Amtrak train heading from Washington, D.C. to New York City:

 

“My heart goes out to the victims of last night’s train derailment in Philadelphia. We all owe our thanks to the brave first responders who were on the scene in minutes, whose quick actions and hard work likely saved lives and prevented this from becoming an even bigger tragedy. There must be thorough investigations into what caused the derailment and how such accidents can be prevented,” said Murphy. “But even before last night it was clear that there’s more we can do as a nation to make rail travel safer and more reliable. Millions of Americans rely on rail to travel up and down the Northeast Corridor each year, and yet Congress refuses to make the investments needed to maintain and expand rail lines and safety features. As a member of the Appropriations transportation subcommittee, I’ll continue to work hard on behalf of the Northeast Corridor’s priorities.”

 

More on the crash:

 

From the site Billy Penn: "Amtrak 188: How often trains crash, and why they go off the rails"


Statement from U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. and Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.:  

“Our hearts and prayers go out to those we lost and those who were injured in the tragic derailment last night. Our praise also goes out to the brave first responders, who worked in dark, dire, chaotic conditions, guiding passengers to safety. They are still at work now, helping families locate loved ones. It is critical now that the Federal Railroad Administration and National Transportation Safety Board complete a swift and thorough investigation so we learn what caused this calamitous event. It’s too soon to conclude the cause; but one thing is certain and that is that this horrific accident spotlights the urgent need to improve railroad safety all across this country. Crashes and derailments leading to mayhem and death have become far too common, contributing to an alarming spike in railroad-related deaths this last year. We simply cannot ignore the shrieking whistles of warning telling us:  it is long past time to upgrade our rail infrastructure and implement comprehensive railroad safety reform,” Blumenthal and Schumer said.

Here is statement by Vice President Joe Biden, who will be in New Haven Sunday for Yale Class Day:
"Jill and I were deeply saddened to learn of the Amtrak tragedy in Philadelphia last night. We are profoundly grateful for the efforts of the first responders and others who continue to assist those in need. The victims could have been any one of our parents, children, or someone from one of our communities. Amtrak is like a second family to me, as it is for so many other passengers. For my entire career, I’ve made the trip from Wilmington to Washington and back. I've come to know the conductors, engineers, and other regulars—men and women riding home to kiss their kids goodnight—as we passed the flickering lights of each neighborhood along the way.
Our thoughts are with every person who is grieving right now from this terrible tragedy. As a nation, we pray for the victims and their families"

This is a visual showing annual fatalities by transportation method, from "Findthebest." Data is from the NTSB's most recent report and is visualized on Wanderbat.com.

Annual Fatalities by Transportation Method in the US | WanderBat