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NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on Amtrak Train Accident: Still Inconclusive

Three weeks after the tragic Amtrak train derailment that claimed eight lives, two hundred injuries and over $9.2 million in property damage, the National Transportation Safety Board has released its “preliminary report.” The conclusion so far: cause still unknown. One must now wonder if they will ever adequately look at the history of institutional neglect.

So far, there have been few answers – but a great deal of finger-pointing and blame. Amtrak CEO Joseph Boardman, testifying before a Congressional committee, accepted full responsibility for the Amtrak train accident, while Democratic and Republican lawmakers accused each other over the Positive Train Control (PTC) technology that might have averted the crash. This technology was in fact installed along the tracks at Frankford Junction, but it wasn't operational at the time. One member of Congress who has long been critical of Amtrak brought up the fact that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been withholding those parts of the radio spectrum necessary for the operation of PTC. 

This may be true, but it is only part of the equation. For years, GOP members of Congress have worked to cut federal funding for the railroad. The result: a $21 billion shortfall for bridge repair and replacement, improvements to a century-old tunnel and general maintenance and upgrades. And, while all rail lines are legally obligated to have PTC installed and operational by December of 2015, Representative Roy Blount (R-MO) has introduced a bill that would give all railroads – Amtrak as well as private carriers – another five years to comply. Blount cites “higher costs and . . . disruption of service” that could result if railroads were forced to meet the current deadline. The Obama Administration has asked Congress to allow it to extend the deadline on a case-by-case basis – but as usual, Congress refuses to cooperate.

Related to underfunding is the issue of the aging passenger coaches. Many of the coaches involved in the Amtrak train accident of May 12 were built forty years ago, and do not have many modern safety features. In fact, Amtrak is still having difficulty replacing coaches that were built during the Second World War – over seven decades ago.

The sad fact is that regardless of what or who is directly responsible for the Amtrak railroad accident, there is technology available today that might have saved lives – but skewed Congressional priorities and refusal to take responsibility will continue to make certain that such tragedies continue.

For more information on railroad accidents, please visit Levin Papantonio’s Train Accident Lawsuitweb site.

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