ENFIELD, N.C. — Four auto racks on Amtrak’s southbound Auto Train derailed Wednesday night, delaying the train and leading to altered schedules for several Amtrak trains through North Carolina.
WTVD-TV in Raleigh, N.C., reported the derailment occurred about 11:30 p.m. None of the 394 passengers or crew were injured. The derailed cars remained upright and will eventually be forwarded to the train’s destination in Sanford, Fla. The train continued to Sanford after a delay.
As a result of the derailment, these changes are in effect today for Amtrak trains that normally travel through the area of the derailment:
— Auto Train Nos. 52 and 53 are cancelled.
— The Carolinian, trains 79 and 80, will run only between Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C.
— The Palmetto, trains 89 and 90, will run only between New York and Washington, D.C.
I agree with John Heffner’s suggestion about rating track conditions. I’ve ridden Amtrak’s City of New Orleans several times between Chicago and New Orleans on CN track, and the ride has always been rough. Last fall when I rode that train, I could not take a shower in my bedroom accommodation because it was so jiggly.
In terms of ride quality CSX along with CN is the most poorly maintained of the 6 Class I host railroads. And the ride quality varies greatly from one FRA class 4 route to another with the former RF&P being very good and part of the former ACL line to Orlando being more marginal. To me CP and BNSF are probably the best on routes also used by freights, then UP and NS, with CSX and CN bringing up the rear. It seems to me that FRA ought to rate track from both a speed and a ride quality. I can’t help but believe that a smooth riding route benefits freight as well from the perspective of loss and damage (say on automobile traffic) as well as derailment potential. It’s matter of spending more money on routine maintenance and inspections as the Class 1’s did back 60 or 70 years ago. The fact is that you are going to pay for it now (maintenance) or later (derailment clean up, bad publicity, and cargo and equipment damage) so you might as well pay for it now.
The cars will eventually be forwarded to Sanford? If those car carriers have the customer’s autos in them, Amtrak is going to be eating the passenger’s expenses. They weren’t even half way South on that trip. And why cancel both 52 and 53? You have two sets of cars and more autoracks than normally needed. Okay, so it is tying up the track. Then why aren’t the Silver Star and Silver Meteor also canned? The Northbound Autotrain and the Northbound Meteor are often one right behind the other.
When Amtrak started over 45 years ago, I subscribed to a slimy little rag that came in the mail called “Rail Travel Newsletter” then later “Rail Travel News”. RTN never held back. It seemed every issue Amtrak had a at least one, usually two or three – derailments or collisions or breakdowns – this is on a railroad without a whole lot of trains. As railfans and as – at a certain level rail experts – we readers have to wonder if railroads are obsolete. Shouldn’t we have an expectation that when we buy a ticket and find our seat, we’re going to get where we are going? Due to circumstances beyond my desire, I fly Southwest frequently. The worst things, it seems, that ever happens on Southwest is an hour’s delay due to a blizzard at the Denver Airport. This on a carrier with far more daily departures than Amtrak could ever dream of. Hey, I hate to drive – as a retired highway engineer I know far too much about highway crashes. That leaves flying and, for a few routes, Amtrak. Since I like to arrive still living, I’ll fly.
nothing has been said about the cause of the derailment. any more info?
I cant speak for 52 and 53 being cancelled, but both 79/80 and 89/90 pass through the Enfield area mid-day. I am sure that after getting the auto racks re-railed today, CSX has a lot of trains backed up in the area and will want to clear them out. I would suggest that CSX had a lot to do with requesting the daytime cancellations.