NTSB begins investigation of Amtrak train derailment

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators have arrived at the site of Saturday’s derailment of Amtrak’s Empire Builder passenger train near Joplin, Montana.

The derailment occurred at 3:55 p.m. Sept. 25 in a remote section of the state, according to the NTSB. Three people died and 50 others were injured.

About 141 passengers and 17 crew members were onboard. The train consisted of two locomotives and 10 cars, with eight of those cars derailing, according to Amtrak. It departed Chicago and was heading west to Seattle, when the derailment occurred about 3 miles west of Joplin. BNSF Railway Co. owns the tracks on which the train was operating.

Amtrak is fully cooperating with the investigation, working with the NTSB, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), local law enforcement and response agencies, Amtrak Chief Executive Officer Bill Flynn said in a statement.

"We share the sense of urgency to understand why the accident happened; however, until the investigation is complete, we will not comment further on the accident itself. The NTSB will identify the cause or causes of this accident, and Amtrak commits to taking appropriate actions to prevent a similar accident in the future," Flynn said.

The railroad has initiated its incident response team to assist the passengers, crew and the families of those who were injured or died, Flynn added.

The 14 NTSB investigators at the site have expertise in rail operations, mechanical, human performance, track, signal systems, recorders, survival factors and family assistance, according to an agency press release. Jim Southworth, who has more than 25 years of experience in rail investigations, is the lead investigator.

The FRA dispatched 18 individuals to the scene in support of the NTSB’s investigation.

The NTSB expects to be on scene in Montana for at least a week. An NTSB investigation typically looks not only at what occurred but why and proposes recommendations to prevent future similar tragedies.