4/13/2013 Coast Starlight Derailment

[jis]

The Northbound Coast Starlight derailed at Niles in Freemont evening of 13 April. Only the lead P42 (205) derailed. The rest of the train was backed out to Newark and then rpoceede via the Fremont sub to Oakland.

Here are a few links to info.

If you are a member of Trainorders you can see some pictures at

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,3048369

and you can see a short report at:

http://www.insidebayarea.com/breaking-news/ci_23022528/fremont-amtrak-train-derails-hours-long-delay-expected

 

[roadman3313]

I know the 2nd Unit #507 (P32) became the primary after this and brought the train to OKJ and then the Oakland Yard. Does anyone know which unit replaced the former lead unit, #205 at the Oakland Yard?

Bus bridge was in place this morning for Capitol Corridor stations in Fremont and Hayward as CC trains used the Coast Sub to detour around though I believe the repairs have just been completed at Niles Junction.

Fortunately there were no reported injuries, minimal damage, and as mentioned before only the first set of wheels on the lead locomotive derailed. I think the biggest complaint overall was the delay in providing information to passengers on board. Heard they found out from the internet what happened before anything was mentioned on board.

 

[leemell]

The reporter can't seem to read the timetable, she seems to think the train ends at Vancouver not Seattle. Probably missed the fact that it is a Thruway bus from Seattle to Vancouver.

 

[roadman3313]

Hate to break it to everyone... but that wasn't a reporter who kept saying that... that was an Amtrak Spokesperson... who as mentioned above most likely didn't see the difference in color in the timetable... can't explain how it came out as Vancouver, BC but it came straight from the Horses Mouth!

 

[Trogdor]

Hate to break it to everyone... but that wasn't a reporter who kept saying that... that was an Amtrak Spokesperson... who as mentioned above most likely didn't see the difference in color in the timetable... can't explain how it came out as Vancouver, BC but it came straight from the Horses Mouth!

Where is an Amtrak spokesperson quoted as saying the train went to Vancouver?

 

[roadman3313]

The article below has her as the source of the information. It appears all the newspapers and news sources I read thus far said Vancouver until this morning where the San Jose Mercury News stated Seattle, WA in their latest update.

"Amtrak Train No. 14, the Coast Starlight, left Los Angeles at 10:10 a.m. Saturday and was scheduled to arrive in Vancouver at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, spokeswoman Christina Leeds said."

http://www.sfgate.com/columns/article/Amtrak-train-derails-near-Fremont-4433286.php

Seems like something got mixed up somewhere along the line of information.

 

[Trogdor]

It's tough to say, because the report does not provide a direct quote. Therefore it is difficult to determine exactly what was said, by whom. It could have been as simple as the reporter asking about the train's schedule, and the spokesperson sending them an e-mail containing the timetable, and the reporter misinterpreting it.

I've seen plenty of examples of reporters paraphrasing someone in a way that presents an inaccurate view of what was actually said (it actually happened to me once, and made it sound like I said something that was factually incorrect when I said nothing of the sort).

Or, it could be that the spokesperson was in error, which would be quite embarrassing/unfortunate if that was the case.

But my rule of thumb is, unless I see quotation marks, I'm skeptical about whether the person said what is being attributed to him/her.

 

[DET63]

From the Inside Bay Area link:

By Katie Nelson Oakland Tribune
Traveling from Los Angeles to Vancouver, the train's next stop was set to be Oakland, but Leeds added because of the derailment, the journey is estimated to be delayed between two to three hours.

Crews are on scene to cut away the lead engine from the rest of the train at which time another engine will be brought in an the train will continue onto Oakland and eventually Canada.

 

[roadman3313]

Given that all the news agencies get it from the same news pool the Vancouver stuck with all of them. That is true though... With little time to research at a late hour on a weekend they probably had to scrape together something in a hurry. Or had an assistant who provided the information. Whether the news media or Amtrak made the error, I don't think the end destination matters for people reading as much as the story itself.

A spokesperson is a difficult job as what you say is always under the microscope. Unfortunately it is very difficult to know all the different parts of an organization and when one needs to issue a statement in a pinch it is easy to glance over or overlook something. Whether it is the spokesperson or the media, both have a lot of information to process and produce in a relatively short timeframe.

I know when I am called from the spokesperson where I work when I am working an accident that many garner media attention, I have very little time to deliver the key facts so he can issue a statement. Usually I am working the scene but have to try to maintain that while speaking with him on the phone and focusing on the conversation with him as well. He bases his statement off the information I provide which can sometimes change based on the way the investigation goes. And sometimes I make a factual error as well with a street or route as well.

And who knows... could have been Vancouver, WA and someone just added in a BC for kicks... yes I'm saying that as a joke but the train does go to that Vancouver! Save the public statement

 

[fairviewroad]

Even if the incorrect info did come from the flack, it doesn't mean news organizations get a pass. The bottom line

is that viewers/readers were misinformed. The correct information was easily verifiable.