Inslee: Amtrak Will Foot The Bill For Train Derailment

DUPONT, WA - Gov. Jay Inslee said he spoke with federal officials Wednesday and confirmed that Amtrak will pay for the substantial costs associated with Monday's train derailment. Inslee spoke with Transportation Secretary Roger Millar and Richard Anderson, president and co-CEO of Amtrak. Anderson told Inslee that Amtrak will cover "the medical and incidental expenses incurred by those injured and their families, the clean-up and repair of the roadway, and the restoration of passenger rail service."

"This is a significant commitment and I appreciate that he has offered this support early and unequivocally," Inslee said.

Inslee said he also talked with Anderson about implementation of the positive train control (PTC) system that would enhance train safety and may have prevented the crash. Anderson said his intention would be to have PTC on all trains statewide before the Dec. 31, 2018 deadline. PTC automatically slows or stops a speeding train.

The train, No. 501, was headed for Portland and had left the Tacoma station about 12 minutes before the derailment. Twelve of the train's 13 cars left the tracks, and at least three people are confirmed dead.

There were more than 80 passengers and crew on the train, and dozens were taken to local hospitals following the incident.

I-5 was shut down until Wednesday evening following the crash, as crews worked around the clock to clear the scene. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Lakewood, click here to find your local Washington Patch. Also, follow us on Facebook, and if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Image via Gov. Jay Inslee