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D.C. Metro crash: malfunctioning circuit?

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

The investigation into the Metro crash on Monday which killed 9 and injured 80 is still in its early stages, but certain clues are being found. Investigators now think that the train operator did apply an emergency brake approximately 400 feet prior to impact. Officials are investigating why the operator did not already know a train was stopped ahead. One of six circuits in the area around the crash which would alert the operator of track information such as upcoming trains and appropriate speeds seems to be functioning improperly. More investigation is underway.

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Tragedy in D.C. – Derailment kills 9

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

A tragic crash occurred yesterday as a Metro passenger train in Washington, D.C. ran into another train at high speeds. As of now, substantial facts are of yet to be reported - the rail cars were not outfitted with recording technology which would have recorded the speed of the train and any mechanical failures. For now, however, officials do not think that mechanical failure was the problem. The rear train rammed full speed into a stopped train in between the Takoma and Fort Totten stations in D.C.

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Court allows suit over North Dakota train derailment

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

Canadian Pacific Railway's attempt to block a lawsuit was denied by the Supreme Court. Residents of Minot, ND are filing the lawsuit against CP, whose train derailed in 2002 and released toxic anhydrous ammonia farm fertilizer into the air over the city. The toxic fumes killed one local man and caused damage to several other residents. In 2006, a U.S district judge ruled that federal law protected CP from any claims that might arise from the derailment. However, the federal law changed the same year. Now, the Supreme Court has denied that CP is protected.

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