Train Derailment Halts America's Busiest Train Line

Ravi Somaiya reports on the collision between two electrified Metro-North Railroad trains "near Fairfield, Conn., at the height of the evening rush on Friday", May 17. The collision between trains headed in opposite direction was the result of a derailment of the east-bound train.

Some 125,000 people travel each day in the affected region, according to Aaron Donovan, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. “It’s the busiest train line in the nation in terms of passenger volume.”

“Damage is significant to both tracks and overheard wires,” Mr. Donovan said, adding that it would “take a substantial effort to repair.” He declined to predict how long those repairs might take. 

Both the MTA and Amtrak said they could not say when service would resume.

However, according to the MTA service alert, "Regular service will operate between Stamford and Grand Central Terminal", whereas Amtrak service is much more severely disrupted.

"Amtrak service is temporarily suspended between New York and Boston", according to Amtrak's release, while "Amtrak service between New York and Washington is unaffected."

Train officials did not offer a reason for the derailment, though they reported that they "had found a section of rail on the eastbound track 'that was fractured at a rail joint'.”

Investigation being handled by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Earl Weener of the NTSB told CNN (see 2-minute video) that "the fracture could have been caused by the accident itself, or it could have been broken before the trains collided."

The New York Times article on May 18 included eyewitness observations from passengers in both the trains of the crash, and this video posted on Gawker captures the immediate aftermath of the collision.