Amtrak 188 Reportedly Traveled Double-Speed into Curve Before Derailment

According to an analysis by the Associated Press, the Amtrak train that derailed outside Philadelphia Tuesday night was traveling at over 100 mph into a 50 mph curve.


The 107 mph estimate is based on surveillance footage of the train approaching a bend in the tracks. Via AP:

The video shows the train — which was roughly 662 feet long — passes the camera in just over five seconds.

But AP found that the surveillance video inexplicably plays back slightly slower than in real time.

So, adjusting for the slower playback puts the train’s estimated speed at 107 miles per hour. The surveillance camera was located at a site just before the bend in the tracks.

Light from an apparent explosion is visible in the video just over three seconds after the train passes.

Tuesday night’s crash killed at least seven people and injured hundreds. The train’s engineer survived the crash and is reportedly talking to authorities.

UPDATE — 3:25 p.m. ET: An NTSB spokesperson confirms that their findings reveal the train was traveling at 100+ mph.

[h/t Associated Press]

[Image via screengrab]

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