The NTSB adopted a Special Investigation Report on selected Metro-North accidents on November 19, 2014. This Special Investigation Report explores organizational factors and regulatory oversight as well as circumstances specific to the individual Metro-North accidents that will be included in the report. See below for the investigations included in this report.
Bridgeport, CT, May 17, 2013
Accident No: DCA13MR003
Accident Type: Railroad Train Derailment
On May 17, 2013 at 6:01 p.m. eastern daylight time, eastbound Metro-North Railroad passenger train 1548 (departing Grand Central Terminal, NY toward New Haven, CT) derailed at milepost 53.25 on main track number 4 of the New Haven Line Subdivision 7 and was struck by westbound Metro-North passenger train 1581 (departing New Haven toward Grand Central Terminal). As a result of the collision, 48 passengers, 2 engineers, and a conductor were transported to local hospitals on the day of the accident. Metro-North estimated there were about 250 passengers on each train at the time of the accident.
West Haven, CT, May 28, 2013
Accident No: DCA13FR005
Accident Type: Railroad Train Strike
On May 28, 2013 at 11:57 a.m. eastern daylight time, Metro-North Railroad passenger train 1559, traveling westbound at 70 mph, struck and fatally injured a track foreman working on the New Haven Line, Subdivision Number 7. The fatal injury occurred approximately 100 feet west of catenary bridge 1021 on main track 1. This is located within the city limits of West Haven, Connecticut, New Haven County. The train consisted of nine passenger cars.
Bronx, NY, July, 18, 2013 (Bronx 1)
Accident No: DCA13FR009
Accident Type: Railroad Train Derailment
On July 18, 2013 at 08:29 p.m. eastern daylight time, northbound CSXT train Q 704, derailed at milepost 9.99 on the Metro-North Railroad Hudson Line. The train consisted of 2 locomotives and 24 modified flat cars. Each flat car carried 4 containers loaded with municipal waste. The train departed CSXT Oak Point Yard and was routed onto the Metro-North Railroad at Control Point (CP) 8.0. The derailment occurred just north of CP 10 on track number 2.
Bronx, NY, December 1, 2013 (Bronx 2)
Accident No: DCA14MR002
Accident Type: Railroad Train Derailment
On Sunday, December 1, 2013 at 07:19 a.m. eastern standard time, southbound Metro-North Commuter Railroad passenger train #8808 derailed at milepost 11.35 on track number 2 of the Metro-North Hudson Line. The train originated in Poughkeepsie, NY with a destination of Grand Central Station in New York City. It consisted of 7 passenger cars and 1 locomotive at the rear in a push configuration. All 7 passenger cars and the locomotive derailed.
The derailment occurred in a 6 degree 30 minute left hand curve where speed was limited to 30 mph. Event recorder data indicates that the train was traveling at 82 mph when it derailed. As a result of the derailment, 4 passengers were killed and 59 persons were transported to local hospitals for injuries. Metro North estimated there were about 115 passengers on the train at the time of the derailment.
Manhattan, NY, March 10, 2014
Accident No: DCA14FR006
Accident Type: Railroad Train Strike
On March 10, 2014 at 12:55 a.m., eastern daylight time, a Metro-North Railroad electrician was killed when struck by northbound train Number 897 in Manhattan, New York. At the time of the accident, the electrician was restoring power to tracks that had been out-of-service earlier for maintenance. The electrician was not within the limits issued earlier to provide protection from trains.
The train consisted of one locomotive and 7 passenger cars. The accident occurred on the Metro-North Railroad Hudson Line near 106th Street. At the time of the accident, the train was traveling about 40 mph (the maximum authorized train speed was 45 mph) through the interlocking at C.P.-3 from the number 2 track to the number 1 track.
