NJ Transit train derails at New York's Penn Station

NEW YORK -- At least five people were hurt when a train derailed as it was pulling into New York Penn Station during rush hour Monday morning, CBS New York reports.

The NJ Transit train derailment, which was minor, occurred just after 9 a.m. According to FDNY, five minor injuries were reported, though one passenger was seen being taken out of the station on a stretcher. 

“It was literally like an amusement ride,” Michael Biondo told CBS New York. “Bodies everywhere piling up.”

“I got thrown into the next person,” said commuter Carol Carloa. “I was sitting on the side, not a regular seat.”

Another passenger said “it just felt like a movie earthquake scene” inside the train.

“It was pretty wild,” he said. “Everyone just started jumping up and down, falling on the floor. Luckily after a couple of seconds, the whole thing just stopped, was calm and people checked to make sure there were no injuries.”

For over an hour, many passengers waited on board for direction as crews worked outside their windows on the track and by the train, Bauman reported.

“We actually found out through Twitter, that’s how passengers found out what happened,” said passenger Erica Dienes.

Amtrak, which owns and maintains Penn Station’s tracks and infrastructure, said three cars of the train derailed. NJ Transit said some rail service was suspended.

“NEC, NJCL, RVL and Midtown Direct rail service is suspended in/out of NYPS due to a derailed NJ TRANSIT train in NYPS,” NJ Transit said on its website. 

It said Midtown Direct trains were being diverted to Hoboken and that it was cross-honoring tickets with NJ Transit bus, private carriers and PATH trains, as well as the NY Waterway ferry. It later said some rail service had resumed, and that service was subject to delays.

Shortly after the derailment, Amtrak also announced all service between New York and Philadelphia had been suspended.

The derailment comes more than a week after another incident involving an NJ TRANSIT train and an Amtrak train at Penn Station. In that incident, an Amtrak Acela Express train from Boston was pulling out of the station on its way to Washington, D.C., when it had “a minor derailment while moving at a slow speed.” 

In that derailment incident, a wheel of the train slipped off the tracks, causing the Acela to sideswipe a NJ TRANSIT train in the adjoining lane. No serious injuries were reported.

In:
• NJ Transit
• Train Derailment
• New York