TRANSPORTATION

Amtrak train cars derail in tunnel near Union Station

By Michael Laris and Heidi Pérez-Moreno
Updated July 11, 2023 at 6:32 p.m. EDT | Published July 11, 2023 at 10:18 a.m. EDT



Emergency vehicles near the scene of a train derailment at Union Station. (Michael Reynolds/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

Two cars on an Amtrak train derailed Tuesday morning in a tunnel near the entrance to Union Station in Washington, according to D.C. fire officials. Authorities said the cars remained upright, but the incident suspended rail service south from the nation’s capital.

No passengers were injured, according to D.C. fire department spokesman Vito Maggiolo. After firefighters boarded the train, emergency workers evaluated one Amtrak employee, who was taken to a hospital for a minor medical condition, he said.

More than 200 passengers on the train were moved to other cars, which then were taken to the L’Enfant Plaza station for unloading.



Emergency workers help passengers with bags while disembarking a supplemental train after their Amtrak train derailed near Union Station. (Nathan Howard/AP)

Amtrak said it is investigating why the train derailed at 8:47 a.m. while moving “at a low speed” in the tunnel south of Union Station. Northeast Regional Train 86 had been traveling from Norfolk.

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By Michael Laris
Michael Laris writes about the transformation of the U.S. transportation system. He has covered government accountability and was a reporter in Beijing. Twitter https://twitter.com/mikelaris

By Heidi Pérez-Moreno
Heidi Perez-Moreno is a Metro intern on the transportation team. She has previously worked for the Raleigh News & Observer, North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC, the Los Angeles Times and the Texas Tribune. Twitter https://twitter.com/heyperezmoreno