Accident Report Detail

On November 12, 1987, National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)/Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) commuter train 8110 was standing partially berthed at the Back Bay Station platform in Boston, Massachusetts, when it was struck from the rear by Amtrak/MBTA commuter train 8114.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was the display of an improper wayside signal aspect resulting from a signal system that was improperly designed, the failure of the engineer of Amtrak/Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority train 8114 to operate in compliance with a restricting cab signal indication, and Amtrak supervisors' failure to properly supervise operating employees and to followup on reported signal failures.