The collision happened at around 2:35 a.m. in Cayce, about 4 miles southwest of Columbia. An Amtrak Silver Star passenger train with 139 passengers and 8 crew on board was traveling south from New York to Miami when it collided with CSX train Q210-03, an empty Autorack train. The Silver Star was hauled by GE P42DC locomotive № 47, while Q210-03 was headed by two GE AC4400CWs, Nos. 130 and 36 Both painted in YN2 at the time. As a result of the collision, the lead engine and "several cars" of the Amtrak train derailed, killing 2 crew members and injuring 116 of the 147 people on board. The lead locomotive of the CSX train was severely damaged, and has since been scrapped. Injured passengers were taken to several local hospitals, but none had life-threatening injuries, according to a Lexington County spokesman. There were at least two fuel leaks from the trains, with an estimated 5,000 gallons of fuel being spilled before a hazardous materials team was able to contain the area.
Aftermath
The National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Railroad Administration, and CSX Transportation began investigations shortly after the accident. On July 23, 2019, NTSB publicly announced that Amtrak’s and CSX Transportation’s failure to properly assess and mitigate the risk of conducting switching operations during a signal suspension, coupled with a CSX conductor’s error, led to the collision of the Amtrak train with the CSX train. Amtrak locomotive No. 47 was severely damaged and is presumed scrapped, and CSX locomotive No. 130's cab and front area was completely destroyed. No. 36 suffered minor damage and is expected to be put back into service. Both No. 130 and No. 36 were towed to the nearest CSX shop, where No. 130 was cut up and scrapped and No. 36 is probably undergoing repairs.
Reactions
U.S. President Donald Trumptweeted that his thoughts and condolences were with the victims of the accident. He thanked those involved in the rescue effort. According to South Carolina GovernorHenry McMaster, it appeared that the CSX train was stationary and on the correct track, while the Amtrak train was on the wrong track. ABC News reported that a switch was incorrectly lined and locked for a siding track instead of the main track for which Amtrak had the authority to occupy. Amtrak chairman Richard Anderson said that the signaling system in the area was not working due to a signal suspension and that trains were being dispatched manually by CSX dispatchers. He later told press that CSX was responsible for the wreck because a switch was lined and locked off the mainline towards the siding.
