By Justin Franz
HAVRE, Mont. — Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn said his railroad would cooperate fully with investigators in trying to figure out how the Empire Builder derailed along a remote stretch of railroad in Montana on Saturday, killing three people and injuring many more. Flynn also expressed sorrow for those impacted by the incident.
“We are in mourning today for the people who lost their lives due to the derailment, as well as the many others who were injured,” Flynn wrote in a letter published Sunday afternoon. “We have no words that can adequately express our sorrow for those who lost a loved one or who were hurt in this horrible event. They are in our thoughts and prayers.”
On Saturday, Amtrak’s westbound Empire Builder derailed on BNSF Railway’s Hi-Line Subdivision near Joplin, Mont., about 50 miles west of Havre. The cause of the derailment is unknown at this time but the National Transportation Safety Board has sent a team to Montana to investigate. While the head end of the train remained upright, the eight rear cars derailed and four of them fell on their sides.
There were approximately 147 passengers and 13 crew members on board at the time of the incident. During a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte said that five people were still hospitalized.
Amtrak has set up a Family Assistance Center in Great Falls to help passengers and families impacted by the derailment. They have also promised to retrieve passengers’ personal belongings once the NTSB lets them access the derailment. Flynn said it was too early to know what caused the derailment.
“We are fully cooperating with the investigation, working closely with National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Railroad Administration, local law enforcement and response agencies,” Flynn wrote. “We share the sense of urgency to understand why the accident happened; however, until the investigation is complete, we will not comment further on the accident itself. The NTSB will identify the cause or causes of this accident, and Amtrak commits to taking appropriate actions to prevent a similar accident in the future.”
BNSF’s Hi-Line Subdivision remained closed Sunday afternoon and high priority trains were being detoured via Montana Rail Link.