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| Hoboken train station crash: One dead and dozens hurt in New Jersey | Hoboken train station crash: One dead and dozens hurt in New Jersey |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| One person has been killed and 108 others injured, some of them critically, after a commuter train crashed into a railway station in the US state of New Jersey. | One person has been killed and 108 others injured, some of them critically, after a commuter train crashed into a railway station in the US state of New Jersey. |
| The train reportedly went through ticket barriers and into the reception area of Hoboken station. | The train reportedly went through ticket barriers and into the reception area of Hoboken station. |
| Images show extensive damage to the train carriages and station, with part of the building roof caved in. | Images show extensive damage to the train carriages and station, with part of the building roof caved in. |
| Witnesses described a scene of horror at the station. | Witnesses described a scene of horror at the station. |
| A huge emergency services operation swung into action following the crash, with firefighters and transport staff helping people from wrecked carriages. | A huge emergency services operation swung into action following the crash, with firefighters and transport staff helping people from wrecked carriages. |
| Reaction after crash | Reaction after crash |
| In pictures: Hoboken train crash | In pictures: Hoboken train crash |
| Witnesses describe crash 'chaos' | Witnesses describe crash 'chaos' |
| Hoboken is across the Hudson River from New York City. Many commuters use the busy station to travel into Manhattan. | Hoboken is across the Hudson River from New York City. Many commuters use the busy station to travel into Manhattan. |
| New Jersey Governor Chris Christie confirmed there had been one fatality. Earlier reports said three people had died. | New Jersey Governor Chris Christie confirmed there had been one fatality. Earlier reports said three people had died. |
| "We're not going to speculate on the cause of the accident," Governor Christie said at a news conference. | "We're not going to speculate on the cause of the accident," Governor Christie said at a news conference. |
| Mr Christie added that the person killed in the accident was struck by debris while standing on a platform. He did not provide more details on the victim. | Mr Christie added that the person killed in the accident was struck by debris while standing on a platform. He did not provide more details on the victim. |
| Mark Cardona was on the platform at the time. | Mark Cardona was on the platform at the time. |
| The "runaway" train missed me by 10-15 feet (3-5m), he told the BBC. There was "absolutely zero chance to react", Mr Cardona said. | The "runaway" train missed me by 10-15 feet (3-5m), he told the BBC. There was "absolutely zero chance to react", Mr Cardona said. |
| "It went full speed into and then through the building. | "It went full speed into and then through the building. |
| "I froze. People were screaming... The ceiling started to collapse. I ran for my life." | "I froze. People were screaming... The ceiling started to collapse. I ran for my life." |
| Ben Fairclough, a witness who was at the station, told the BBC: "I wasn't on the train, but I arrived just after it happened. There was water coming down off the roof and people climbing out through the windows. | Ben Fairclough, a witness who was at the station, told the BBC: "I wasn't on the train, but I arrived just after it happened. There was water coming down off the roof and people climbing out through the windows. |
| "There were people sitting down with blood coming from their head. There were lots of injuries." | "There were people sitting down with blood coming from their head. There were lots of injuries." |
| US rail safety | US rail safety |
| In 2008 the US Congress passed a law requiring all trains to install Positive Train Control (PTC) systems by the end of 2015. | In 2008 the US Congress passed a law requiring all trains to install Positive Train Control (PTC) systems by the end of 2015. |
| But most rail companies were unable to meet the deadline as the system is expensive and complex to install. Some rail lines - including New Jersey Transit - threatened to shut down completely if it was enforced. In response, Congress extended the deadline to install PTC systems to 2018. | But most rail companies were unable to meet the deadline as the system is expensive and complex to install. Some rail lines - including New Jersey Transit - threatened to shut down completely if it was enforced. In response, Congress extended the deadline to install PTC systems to 2018. |
| Rail lines can then apply for an additional two-year extension to finalise updates and test the system. But safety targets for New Jersey's commuter trains say PTC installation should be completed by 2018. | Rail lines can then apply for an additional two-year extension to finalise updates and test the system. But safety targets for New Jersey's commuter trains say PTC installation should be completed by 2018. |
| According New Jersey Transit's most recent PTC progress report, none of the 440 trains on the New Jersey Transit rail line are equipped with PTC, nor have any employees been trained on the equipment. | According New Jersey Transit's most recent PTC progress report, none of the 440 trains on the New Jersey Transit rail line are equipped with PTC, nor have any employees been trained on the equipment. |
| PTC safety systems are designed to automatically override the actions of train engineers if the locomotive is travelling too fast. In effect, they act as a safeguard against "human error" which could cause derailments or collisions. | PTC safety systems are designed to automatically override the actions of train engineers if the locomotive is travelling too fast. In effect, they act as a safeguard against "human error" which could cause derailments or collisions. |
| The system uses wifi, GPS and a specific coding system to relay real-time information from trains to control centres. | The system uses wifi, GPS and a specific coding system to relay real-time information from trains to control centres. |
| Last year, the Guardian reported that US trains were far behind those in Europe, which have had automatic safety systems for years. | Last year, the Guardian reported that US trains were far behind those in Europe, which have had automatic safety systems for years. |
| Governor Christie said officials have no estimate on when the NJ Transit section of the Hoboken Terminal will re-open. | |
| The structural integrity of the part of the building used for PATH commuter trains has been deemed safe and was expected to resume service later on Thursday. | |
| The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) vice chairman, Bella Dinh-Zarr, said the agency would be looking into whether there were any similarities between Thursday's crash and one at the same station in 2011 that injured 34 people. | The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) vice chairman, Bella Dinh-Zarr, said the agency would be looking into whether there were any similarities between Thursday's crash and one at the same station in 2011 that injured 34 people. |
| An NTSB investigation found excessive speed to be the main cause of the 2011 accident. | An NTSB investigation found excessive speed to be the main cause of the 2011 accident. |
| History of recent deadly passenger train crashes in US | |
| While the US sees its fair share of deadly freight train crashes and derailments, this is the first deadly passenger train crash for five months. | |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area? Have you been affected? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |