History's A Disaster

← History's A Disaster26 jul · 21 min

2017 Washington Amtrak Cascades Derailment

2017 Washington Amtrak Cascades Derailment26 jul21 min

Send us Fan Mail A passenger train on a brand-new route should not end up scattered across a highway, but that’s exactly what happened when Amtrak Cascades Train 501 hit a tight curve at more than double the posted limit and derailed onto I-5. We walk through how the Point Defiance Bypass was designed to improve service, why key infrastructure fixes were cut, and how a “permanent speed reduction” became the main defense at the most dangerous spot on the line. We also dig into the safet...