| NTSB
Go-Team To Depart Bronx; Investigation Into Metro-North Derailment Will Continue
From Washington |
|
|
|
Dec.
9, 2013
WASHINGTON—
The National Transportation Safety Board's go-team will leave New York City this
week after completing the necessary on-scene investigative work into the cause
of the derailment of a Metro-North passenger train on December 1. The NTSB will
continue to gather factual information and investigators will return to New York
as needed for follow-up work.
The
following investigative update is provided regarding the Dec. 1 derailment:
Over
the weekend, investigators completed the mechanical inspection of the train and
found no anomalies. As stated last week, there were also no anomalies found with
the tracks or with the signal system. Investigators examined car 6222, the lead
car in which the engineer controlled the train. The “dead-man” switch, a
foot-pedal on the floor of the cab that must be depressed to keep the train
moving was evaluated. The pedal moved and released as expected. No anomalies
were noted. In addition, the control key switch worked as designed. The team
also conducted a site/distance test and found no problems with visibility.
As
a result, at this time, the NTSB believes that if positive train control
technology was installed on this line and train, it would have required the
engineer to slow the train to an appropriate speed or stop the train in the
event the engineer did not do so, likely preventing the derailment. The NTSB has
been advocating for PTC for more than 20 years and it is on its Most Wanted List
of transportation improvements. More information can be found at http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl8_2012.html.
Investigators
completed interviews with all crew members. All have been cooperative and
forthcoming. All said it was a normal run until shortly before the derailment
sequence.
Investigators are still awaiting results of crew drug tests and
cellphone records.
Investigators
also interviewed the engineer of a train that passed the accident train, 8808,
near Riverton at about 7:11 a.m. That engineer said the headlight on train 8808
was on high and the engineer did not dim his light as is required by
Metro-North.
Mechanical
examinations, such as shop testing of the of dead-man switch, inspection and
testing of speed sensors and tachometer rings, the brake control unit, and the
propulsion controller from the control car have been completed. No anomalies
were found.
Ongoing
activities include interviews with passengers, Metro-North employees who were
riding on the accident train and first responders. Records continue to be
gathered.
Investigators
will also take 3-D scans of the damaged cars and locomotive for use in a digital
accident re-creation and for detailed measurements.
The
NTSB would also like to talk to passengers on the train that derailed to learn
about what they experienced and causes of injury. Our goal is to ultimately make
future improvements in the design of passenger rail cars.
Further
written updates will be issued as events warrant. Keep up with NTSB news on
Twitter @NTSB or at www.ntsb.gov.
| 