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11/10/2021
Amtrak on Nov. 18 will restart its Cascades service along the Point Defiance Bypass for the first time since a deadly derailment occurred in DuPont, Washington, in 2017.
Service is being restored after intensive system testing, crew qualifications and safety certification in partnership with Sound Transit and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Amtrak officials said in a press release.
The first Cascades train using the bypass will depart Seattle at 7:22 a.m., arriving in Tacoma at 8:08 a.m. The first northbound train from Oregon will leave Eugene at 5:30 a.m. and Portland at 8:20 a.m., arriving in Tacoma at 10:54 a.m. A total of eight trains — including Amtrak Cascades and Coast Starlight — will use the Bypass daily, with additional trains added in the months ahead as COVID restrictions ease.
Use of the bypass was suspended after a train on its first paid passenger run derailed in December 2017 on Sound Transit-owned track. Three of the 77 passengers were killed and 65 others were injured. Investigators determined the train was traveling 80 mph in a 30 mph zone at the time of the derailment, and positive train control (PTC) was not in use for the track and the curve at the time.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that failure to provide effective mitigation of a hazardous curve and the inadequate training of the locomotive engineer led to the accident.
To prepare for a safe and comfortable trip, Amtrak conducted crew qualifications in preparation for the resumption of service on the Point Defiance Bypass route. The training was conducted in coordination with Sound Transit, Amtrak officials said.
Over the past four years, all involved agencies have collaborated to activate PTC on the track; develop and implement an Amtrak Safety Management System; requalify and train all Point Defiance Bypass crew members; upgrade simulator programs; and conduct extensive public outreach on railroad safety.
Amtrak, Sound Transit and WSDOT have implemented or are continuing to pursue all safety recommendations set forth by the NTSB, Amtrak officials said.