​On Friday, May 17, 2013, at 6:01 p m . eastern daylight eastbound Metro North Railroad (Metro North) passenger train 1548 , which had depart ed Grand Central Terminal (GCT), New New York headed toward New Haven, derailed from main track 4 at milepost (MP) 53.25 on the New Haven Line Subdivision 7. The derailed train was then struck by westbound Metro North passenger train 1581 which had depart ed New Haven, Connecticut bound for GCT. As a result of the collision, at least 65 persons were injured. Metro North estimated about 250 passengers were on each train at the time of the accident.

​​We determined that the probable cause of the derailment was an undetected broken pair of compromise joint bars on the north rail of track 4 on the Metro North Railroad New Haven subdivision at milepost 53.25 resulting from: (1) the lack of a comprehensive track maintenance program that prioritized the inspection findings to schedule proper corrective maintenance; ( the regulatory exemption for high density commuter railroads from the requirement to traverse the tracks they inspect and (3) Metro North’s decisions to defer scheduled track maintenance.​

​We made recommendations to the Federal Railroad Administration.