The impact of the tragedy and the examination of its causes will linger for months or years. But in the wake of a deadly train derailment Monday between Tacoma and Olympia, some perspective is coming into focus.
Foremost in the mind is the horror of the accident, in which 13 of 14 cars in an Amtrak commuter train jumped the tracks, killing three people and injuring more than 100. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and our thanks go out to the first responders and medical personnel who have worked tirelessly to provide assistance and comfort.
Some of the railcars landed on Interstate 5 below, and another was left dangling above the freeway. The images evoke the most high-tech of Hollywood special effects, yet they are all too real and strike all too close to home with the train on a scheduled trip from Seattle to Portland.
It will take a while to determine exactly what went wrong, but federal officials confirmed Monday night, within hours of the wreck, that the train was traveling about 80 mph in a 30 mph zone.
The maximum speed for a long straightaway prior to the site of the crash is 79 mph, then it quickly drops to 30 mph before the curve where the derailment occurred. Meanwhile, media reports say that “positive train control” — technology that can slow a speeding train — was not in use on that stretch of track and was scheduled to be operational in the spring.
President Donald Trump was quick to seize the crash for political purposes and tweet, “Seven trillion dollars spent in the Middle East while our roads, bridges, tunnels, railways (and more) crumble! Not for long!” Moments later, Trump added a more presidential, “My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in the train accident in Dupont, Washington. Thanks to all of our First Responders who are on the scene.”
Trump’s initial response, in addition to being reactionary, was inaccurate. While a lack of infrastructure spending is a major issue that is diminishing this nation’s greatness, it was not a factor in the derailment.
The wreck occurred on a new direct inland route that was recently completed after seven years and $181 million. The Point Defiance Bypass project redirected passenger trains away from a curvy route along Puget Sound that was shared with freight trains. Monday’s excursion was the first scheduled passenger train along the new route.
Much has been made of a quote from the mayor of nearby Lakewood predicting an accident on the new route, but that has been taken out of context. Lakewood officials opposed the route crossing their city at street grade and were concerned about dangers for local residents, not a potential derailment.
As the details of the derailment get sorted out, it is important to keep the risk of rail travel in perspective. A 2013 study published by Research in Transportation Economics found that passenger train service is about 17 times safer than car travel in terms of fatalities per mile, yet not as safe as travel by plane or by bus.
Still, one derailment is too many, and statistics are of little comfort to the victims and their families. A full investigation will reveal important answers about what happened — including an explanation for why the route was in use before the positive train control system was operational.
Until then, we are left only with sadness and more questions than answers.
