HARTFORD, Conn. – An Amtrak train has struck an engineering truck at Newington, about 5 miles southeast of Hartford on Friday. Six people onboard the train are injured.
Two workers in the truck were able to escape before the impact, according to local media reports.
Passengers were transferred to another train in the afternoon.
According to an Amtrak service alert, the train involved was No. 470, a northbound operating between New Haven and Springfield, Mass. Further service alerts indicate that at least one later Amtrak train was covered by CTrail equipment.
The cause of the incident is currently under investigation.
UPDATE: Train 470 is currently disabled north of Berlin (BER) due to a vehicle on the tracks.
— Amtrak Northeast (@AmtrakNECAlerts) January 24, 2020
Does that line have PTC, and was it in effect?
A photo posted on another web site showed the train was in the “push” mode with a cab control car leading. Had the engine been in the lead, there might not have been any injuries.
Amtrak appears to have a serious issue with MOW vehicles and limits of authority. Though, without further details, this could be the fault of the train crew and not the track employees.