MOORPARK, Calif. — Amtrak’s northbound Coast Starlight struck a water truck and derailed Wednesday morning at a rural crossing near Moorpark, Calif., about 60 miles north of Los Angeles. The crossing did not have automatic warning devices.
Video from KNBC-TV shows the train was led by Charger ALC42 No. 300, which suffered extensive front-end damage. That unit, the trailing P42 locomotive, and some of the train’s eight cars appear to have derailed, but none tipped over on the single track. From photos of the accident, the consist includes a Viewliner II baggage car and seven Superliners: two sleeping cars, a dining car, a Sightseer lounge and three coaches.
Reports vary on the number of people aboard. The Los Angeles Times is reporting the train was carrying 173 passengers and 13 crew members, while the Associated Press is reporting 198 passengers and 13 crew members. Reporets agree 15 people were taken to hospitals with injuries, including the driver of the truck. None of the injuries were reported to be major. At least one train crew member was injured, according to the Times report. An emergency hotline number provided for information on passengers is (805) 465-6650.
The route also hosts state-sponsored Pacific Surfliners and Metrolink’s Ventura County Line service. Metrolink’s Twitter feed indicates its afternoon service “will be impacted north of Moorpark” but does not yet offer details. The Amtrak Alerts Twitter feed reports the northbound train will be cancelled in its entirety, and that the southbound train that departed Seattle yesterday and is due in Los Angeles today will be terminated in Oxnard, Calif. Today’s departure from Seattle will terminate in Emeryville, Calif.
The Pacific Surfliner website now advises that Surfliners will not operate north of Los Angeles today, and possibly on Thursday, June 29; Metrolink is honoring Surfliner tickets on the Ventura County Line. Metrolink is reporting Ventura County Transportation Commission buses will provide service beyond Moorpark.
— Updated at 3:54 p.m. CDT with Amtrak Alerts information; updated at 4:59 p.m. CDT with additional information on Starlight, Pacific Surfliner, and Metrolink operations and at 5:03 p.m. with injury information.
