ACE Train Ridership Plummets After Derailment in Niles Canyon

PLEASANTON, CA: Ridership was down as the Altamont Corridor Express commuter rail line went back into service Wednesday morning after a train derailed when it hit a mudslide in the Niles Canyon area of Alameda County on Monday night, injuring nine people, an ACE spokesman said.

ACE had 1,958 riders during this morning's commute, down from 2,400 to 2,500 passengers on a typical Wednesday morning commute, ACE spokesman Steve Walker said. Walker said he couldn't be sure why ridership was down, whether it was because people were nervous following Monday night's derailment or because riders didn't get the message in time since ACE wasn't sure until late Tuesday that there would be rail service this morning. Trains are moving slightly slower than they usually do.

Tracks were largely undamaged where the derailment happened, about a mile west of Sunol between Fremont and Pleasanton, but as a precaution trains have been running at reduced speeds of 10 mph through the area, which usually is a posted 40 mph zone.

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• ACE Trains to Resume Service Wednesday
• Mudslide Cause of Train Derailment That Injured 9, Officials Say
• California Commuter Train Plunges Into Creek In Sunol; 9 Injured

When the Stockton-bound train derailed Monday, it was going about 35 mph. Two cars derailed at about 7:15 p.m. when the train hit the mudslide, caused by a weekend of heavy rains soaking the hillside. One car flew off the tracks and landed on its side, partially submerged in nearby Alameda Creek. The car behind it remained upright but its wheels were buried in mud. Five passengers and the train's engineer were on board the first car. Four of them were seriously injured in the derailment and were taken to a hospital. Five other people on board the train suffered minor injuries such as scrapes and bruises, Walker said. Alameda County fire officials said a few other people had minor injuries but were treated at the scene.

Sheriff's Sgt. Ray Kelly said Monday night it was a "miracle that nobody was killed." The other approximately 200 passengers on board the train were taken by bus to the Alameda County fairgrounds and then to their final stations, according to the fire department.

All passengers reached their final stations by about 1 a.m. Tuesday, ACE officials said. Crews spent most of Tuesday using a crane to pull the car out of Alameda County and re-rail both cars. They were taken to Fremont, where there is a small railyard, and will be inspected to see if they can be taken back to Stockton, Walker said.

ACE officials are still hoping to salvage the car that landed in the creek, valued at between $2 million and $2.5 million. It would be months before repairs to the car are complete, but it could take years for the company to purchase a new one, Walker said.

By Bay City News

Photo courtesy Alameda County Fire Twitter