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Amtrak Philadelphia: Two dead as train derails | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A train has derailed south of the US city of Philadelphia, leaving two people dead and more than 30 others injured. | |
Amtrak's Train 89 was heading from New York City to Savannah in Georgia when it struck a mechanical digger - known in the US as a backhoe - that was on the track at Chester. | Amtrak's Train 89 was heading from New York City to Savannah in Georgia when it struck a mechanical digger - known in the US as a backhoe - that was on the track at Chester. |
Some 341 passengers and seven crew members were on board. | Some 341 passengers and seven crew members were on board. |
All Amtrak services between New York and Philadelphia have been suspended. | All Amtrak services between New York and Philadelphia have been suspended. |
An Amtrak statement said the impact with the backhoe had derailed the lead engine of the Palmetto train in Chester, 15 miles (24km) from Philadelphia. | An Amtrak statement said the impact with the backhoe had derailed the lead engine of the Palmetto train in Chester, 15 miles (24km) from Philadelphia. |
The statement said local emergency responders were at the scene and an investigation was ongoing. | The statement said local emergency responders were at the scene and an investigation was ongoing. |
Chester fire department commissioner Travis Thomas provided the figures on casualties. | |
Amtrak released an emergency hotline number - 800 532 9101. | Amtrak released an emergency hotline number - 800 532 9101. |
In May last year, seven carriages of an Amtrak train derailed on the Philadelphia-New York line, killing seven people and injuring more than 200. | In May last year, seven carriages of an Amtrak train derailed on the Philadelphia-New York line, killing seven people and injuring more than 200. |
And about 20 people were injured when an Amtrak train derailed 20 miles west of Dodge City, Kansas, last month. | And about 20 people were injured when an Amtrak train derailed 20 miles west of Dodge City, Kansas, last month. |