LOWER SAUCON TWP., Pa. — The collision of three trains that resulted in a derailment outside Bethlehem this month injured seven crew members and caused about $2.5 million in damages to the Norfolk Southern rail line, according to federal investigators.
The National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday released its preliminary findings into the March 2 crash and derailment.
The preliminary report does not assign fault or blame in the crash; a final report and findings won't be released for another one to two years.
A final report and findings from the NTSB won't be released for another one to two years.
The NTSB said the investigation continues and will focus on Norfolk Southern rules, procedures and crew-training related to train handling.
“With safety and continuous improvement in mind, Norfolk Southern issued a Serious Incident Notice to all crews shortly after the incident," Norfolk Southern spokesman Connor Spielmaker said in a written statement. "That was followed by face-to-face conversations across our network. We will be providing further education on restricted speed operations, and will continue working closely with the NTSB on their investigation.”
The seven crew members — three on one train and two each on the other two trains — all were treated at the hospital for minor injuries that day and released.
The crash occurred at 7:11 a.m. March 2 when an eastbound train going 13 mph with two lead locomotives and 39 intermodal rail cars collided with a train stopped for rail traffic on the eastbound tracks, according to the report.
Three cars from the striking train derailed onto adjacent tracks and were struck by a third, westbound train about a minute later, investigators said.
The westbound train was traveling at 22 mph and consisted of two lead locomotives, a distributed power unit and 199 mixed freight railcars.
Six of the third train’s rail cars and the two locomotives derailed, and went partially into the Lehigh River, according to the report.
Three of those derailed rail cars had placards indicating they were hazardous materials tank cars — one containing ethanol residue and two with butane residue.
Ruben Payan, the NTSB investigator in charge of the investigation, previously said the three derailed cars had been hauling hazardous materials but were empty and only contained residue at the time of the crash. The tank cars did not breach or release any hazardous materials, according to the report.
The rail line near the site in the Steel City section of Lower Saucon Township, along Riverside Drive, has two main tracks, investigators said.
Train movements are authorized by wayside signal indications with an overlaid positive train control system coordinated by the Norfolk Southern dispatch center in Atlanta, Georgia, the report said.
"We will be providing further education on restricted speed operations, and will continue working closely with the NTSB on their investigation.”Connor Spielmaker, Norfolk Southern senior communications manager
The positive train control system enforces speed limits and prevents a train from passing through a signal that requires it to stop. The maximum authorized speed in the area is 40 mph.
According to the report, the first striking train went through a signal that required it to operate at a restricted speed; it was going 13 mph when the first collision occurred.
The westbound train was not required to operate at a restricted speed, but was going 22 mph — below the maximum speed — when it collided with the derailed cars, the report said.
The report provided these details of each train:
Train stopped on eastbound tracks: Train 24XH101 — Three lead locomotives and 27 intermodal rail cars. Crew consisted of an engineer and a conductor. Train was heading from Atlanta, Georgia, to Croxton, New Jersey.
Eastbound striking train: Train 268H429 — Two lead locomotives and 39 intermodal rail cars. Crew consisted of an engineer and a conductor. Train was traveling from Landers, Illinois, to Elizabeth, New Jersey..
Westbound striking train: Train 19GH501 —Two lead locomotives, one distributed power unit, and 199 mixed freight rail cars. Crew consisted of an engineer, a conductor and a conductor trainee. Train was traveling from Croxton, New Jersey, to Enola, Pennsylvania.
Besides Norfolk Southern, parties to the investigation identified by NTSB include the federal Railroad Administration; the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen; the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen; and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers.
