No Amtrak Service Between NYC And Philadelphia Due To Derailment
BOSTON (CBS/AP) - Amtrak has had to modify Northeast Corridor service because of the deadly derailment in Philadelphia.
Read: Amtrak Updates
Trains will run between Washington and Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Philadelphia, and New York and Boston.
Read: CBS Philly Updates On Derailment
There will be no Amtrak service between New York and Philadelphia.
New Jersey Transit will honor Amtrak tickets between New York City and Trenton.
Individuals with questions about their friends and family on train 188 should call Amtrak's Incident Hotline at 800-523-9101.
— Amtrak (@Amtrak) May 13, 2015
President Obama released this statement on the derailment late Wednesday morning:
Along with Americans across our country, Michelle and I were shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the derailment aboard Amtrak Train 188. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those we lost last night, and to the many passengers who today begin their long road to recovery. Along the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak is a way of life for many. From Washington, DC and Philadelphia to New York City and Boston, this is a tragedy that touches us all. As we work to determine exactly what happened, I commend the fire, police and medical personnel working tirelessly and professionally to save lives. Philadelphia is known as the city of brotherly love – a city of neighborhoods and neighbors – and that spirit of loving-kindness was reaffirmed last night, as hundreds of first responders and passengers lent a hand to their fellow human beings in need.
At Boston's South Station, passengers said the derailment hit close to home.
"Just dodged a bullet that's all," said one man who is a regular rider through Philadelphia. "I could have been on it going to North Carolina."
Trains from New York City to Boston's South Station were delayed by more than an hour-and-a-half in some cases, carrying passengers with frayed nerves. "I thought about changing my trip actually, but I had to get home," said Boston College student Martha Rice, returning to school. Horrific images of the Amtrak derailment in Philadelphia had her re-evaluating travel plans. "We looked at planes and then we thought about delaying the train trip until they made sure every train was safe."
She and many other uneasy passengers took the train anyway. "I was saying a prayer though, before getting back on Amtrak, calling my family first for sure."
"When something like this happens close to my home, I'm only about 35 minutes from where it hit and you worry about it, you know," said Tom Scorsolini. "Was it conductor error? Was there something mechanically wrong with the train? But it's frightening all those people got hurt. I feel sorry for them. My prayers are with them."
It was the second fatal Amtrak accident in two days, and the third major train accident in a couple months. While that had many worried as they boarded trains Wednesday, Lita Newdick, from Cambridge kept a cool head. "These terrible things happen, but it happens very seldom, but you take your chances. you don't just stay home."
Though most passengers say they still feel safe traveling on Amtrak, they added they do worry about the equipment.
"I'm not extremely concerned, but it is unfortunate that we do have an old infrastructure that can lead to these kind of accidents," said a woman at South Station who grew up in Philadelphia and travels on Amtrak trains frequently.
WBZ-TV's Christina Hager contributed to this report.
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