Amtrak Train Derails in New London, CT

January 21st, 2011 |

NEW LONDON, CT – An Amtrak passenger train derailed in New London, CT on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 as it was arriving at Union Station. Apparently there was only one passenger car involved in the incident. According to reports, there was no one on the train at the time.

Derailed Amtrak passenger car sits at Union Station in New London, CT following a derailment on Tuesday morning, January 18, 2011.

New London is in New London County, Connecticut in the southeastern part of the state about 47 miles southeast of Hartford, the state’s capitol.

The accident happened early in the morning before 5:30 a.m. The train involved in the mishap was an empty westbound train that was brought up to New London to handle the first set of Shoreline East passengers heading west. The train that was involved in the derailment was the first train out of New London for the day.

Location of Amtrak train derailment at Union Station in New London, CT on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011.

Fortunately, no one was hurt and there were no injuries to any railroad workers. Also, there were no hazardous materials involved and no one had to be evacuated as a result of the incident.

The one car that derailed was and end car. The trucks on one of the passenger cars were the only part of the train that slid off the tracks and the car remained upright after the incident. The wheels of the car were sitting in the snow, about a foot from the tracks.

The above photo shows the wheels from one of the trucks of the derailed passenger car sitting in the snow about a foot from the track.

Passenger service was delayed slightly, but there are another set of tracks at Union Station so passengers were able to board trains on the other tracks while crews worked to right the car that slid off the tracks. Another train was brought in to take over the Shoreline East route so there was about a 20 minute delay for passengers.

Throughout the day, train service was slow going as conductors worked to keep the wheels on the tracks. Better to be safe than sorry so it was better to be cautious and go slow.

A crane was brought in around mid-afternoon to lift the car and put it back on the track.

According to reports, the damage was minimal.

Published by FELA attorneys Gordon, Elias & Seely, LLP