Amtrak issues statement on its train derailment that killed at least six people and injured 100 others on its first day of service

Yesterday an Amtrak passenger train derailed outside Tacoma, Washington on a new service route. Authorities said at least six people were killed and more than 100 people were injured and taken to hospitals.

Amtrak President and Co-CEO Richard Anderson said they will "do everything" in their power to support passengers, crew members and their families in the train derailment.

Read the full statement below...


Amtrak Cascades Train 501, operating from Seattle and Portland, derailed south of Tacoma, Wash. There were approximately 80 passengers and five crew members on board. Local emergency responders are on the scene.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and injuries due to the derailment of Amtrak Cascades Train 501 south of Tacoma this morning.

Our first concern is taking care of everyone that was on board Train 501. We have established a Passenger Reception Center to work closely with families of individuals on the train, as well as have established an Amtrak Incident Hotline. Families with questions about individuals on the train can contact 800-523-9101. We will do everything in our power to support these passengers, our employees and their families. We are committed to taking care of them and providing the highest level of assistance possible during their time of need.

There is a thorough investigation underway to determine what happened. The investigation will be conducted by NTSB, and we will cooperate fully with all authorities. At this time, we will not speculate about the cause, and we encourage others not to speculate as well.

We want to extend our sincere appreciation to Washington State Patrol, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, Pierce County EMA, American Red Cross, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and all responders and medical professionals for their assistance.