Senator Phillips Calls for Comprehensive Safety Review Following Second Penn Station Derailment in Two Weeks

     Senator Elaine Phillips (R-Manhasset) is calling for a comprehensive safety and operational review of Penn Station by Amtrak following two train derailments in the station’s tunnels over the last two weeks.  The derailments severely disrupted service for hundreds of thousands of riders.  Amtrak is the agency which owns and operates Penn Station.

     “Two derailments within two weeks at one of the busiest transit hubs in the Western Hemisphere is very concerning to say the least.  While thankfully there were no serious injuries reported, there were still significant impacts; hundreds of thousands of people saw service cancellations and delays.   Amtrak is responsible for operating and maintaining Penn Station.  It should immediately review its infrastructure and examine what steps it can take to prevent these types of accidents, before another one happens,” said Senator Phillips.

     On March 24th an Amtrak train derailed after sideswiping a NJ Transit train as it headed out of Penn Station.  Several passengers were reported to have sustained minor injuries.  While the accident did not involve the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), it had a major impact on LIRR operations.  The railroad was forced to cancel approximately 30 eastbound rush hour trains, impacting thousands of commuters.

     Earlier today, a NJ Transit train derailed pulling into Penn Station, reportedly causing minor injuries to a few passengers.  Again, LIRR riders were affected.  LIRR officials stated that the derailment affects approximately half the tracks they use for PM rush hour service, significantly reducing their service capacity from Penn Station.   

     Penn Station is one of the busiest transit hubs in the Western Hemisphere.  According to Amtrak, more than 650,000 people pass through the station each day, twice as many people as Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark airports combined.