WASHINGTON — While the final report on what caused a train to derail in Philadelphia Tuesday night won’t be done for a year or so, some information could be released later in the day Wednesday.
Deborah Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council and a former chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, told WTOP on Wednesday morning that investigators will be looking at everything from the geometry of the tracks, the speed of the train and other factors in the crash of Train 188 from Union Station in Washington.
One thing working in their favor, she says, is the time of day.
“Daylight really allows them to document the scene,” she says, as they find the point of derailment and get data from the recorders on the train.
Those recorders don’t carry quite as much information as those on jetliners, but “they tend to be robust and survivable,” Hersman says, and carry data on such things as speed, the application of brakes and the use of bells, whistles and other alarms.
Investigators will be looking for video from any sources, whether it be on the train, on other trains or surveillance cameras from buildings and businesses in the area.
“Video is very helpful,” Hersman says.
And while the final report takes time, she says, “I can tell you that they will be releasing factual information probably within the next few hours.”
