A freight train derailment in Delaware County Wednesday night left some SEPTA and Amtrak passengers stranded for hours Thursday morning. Even when Amtrak Northeast Corridor service resumed, the transit agency warned of "significant" delays as SEPTA canceled trains for the remainer of the day.
The last two cars of the 88-car the Norfolk Southern train carrying crushed stone derailed under an Interstate 95 overpass in Crum Lynne, near Chester and SEPTA’s Eddystone Station, late Wednesday night, the railroad said.
No injuries were reported but damage was done to the morning commute: SEPTA suspended service on its Wilmington/Newark Regional Rail Line and Amtrak suspended Northeast Corridor Service between Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
At Philadelphia's 30th Street Station, passengers voiced frustration over the "chaotic" handling of the "nightmare" morning commute as they tried to figure out alternative travel plans, NBC10's Katy Zachry reported. Some passengers could be overheard discussing if they should rent a car to get south of the city.
Midday, SEPTA announced its Wilmington/Newark service would remain halted for the rest of the day as multiple tracks remained out of service. SEPTA added extra service on its Media/Elwyn Line in an attempt to alleviate the pain of the suspension but that service doesn't help people trying to get to Delaware from 30th Street Station.
Amtrak resumed service on its Northeast Corridor Line shortly before 8 a.m. but warned customer to "expect significant residual delays throughout the morning due to a reduced number of tracks available." They would later cancel some trains so check with Amtrak before you plan to board.
The freight train was traveling from Birdsboro, Pennsylvania to Tasker, Del. when the rail cars tipped, Norfolk Southern spokesman Jon Glass said.
SEPTA called the needed repairs "extensive." It was unclear if service would be back on track for the Friday morning commute.
The cause of the derailment remained under investigation.
