National Transportation Safety Board. 2016. Derailment of Amtrak Passenger Train 188 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 12, 2015. Railroad Accident Report NTSB/RAR-16/02. Washington, DC.
Abstract: At 9:21 p.m. eastern daylight time on May 12, 2015, eastbound Amtrak passenger train 188 derailed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with 245 passengers and 8 Amtrak employees on board. The train had just entered the Frankford Junction curve—where the speed is restricted to 50 mph—at 106 mph. As the train entered the curve, the locomotive engineer applied the emergency brakes. Seconds later, the train derailed. Eight passengers died, and 185 others were transported to area hospitals.
This report addresses the following safety issues: crewmember situational awareness and management of multiple tasks; positive train control; passenger railcar window systems and occupant protection; and transportation of the injured after mass casualty incidents.
As a result of the investigation of this accident, the National Transportation Safety Board makes recommendations to Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration, the American Public Transportation Association, the Association of American Railroads, the Philadelphia Police Department, the Philadelphia Fire Department, the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management, the mayor of the city of Philadelphia, the National Association of State EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Officials, the National Volunteer Fire Council, the National Emergency Management Association, the National Association of EMS Physicians, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.
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