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How the Amtrak Derailment Is Affecting East Coast Travel

2 minute read
By Justin Worland

The derailment of an Amtrak train late Tuesday in Philadelphia left at least six people dead and created chaos on the heavily traveled Northeast corridor Wednesday morning, cutting off all direct rail service between Philadelphia and New York City and causing delays elsewhere.

All Amtrak travel between New York City and Philadelphia has been canceled until further notice. Passengers can travel with their Amtrak tickets on New Jersey Transit’s service between New York City and Trenton, N.J., which is located about 40 mi (64 km) from Philadelphia. But trains are not available between Trenton and Philadelphia, because Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) has suspended rail service on that line. Additionally, New Jersey Transit’s service to Atlantic City from Philadelphia has also been suspended.

For passengers traveling elsewhere on the Northeast corridor, Amtrak is operating a modified schedule. Service continues between Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, and New York City and Boston, but passengers should check with Amtrak to confirm their train is still running. As of early Wednesday morning, only three trains appeared to be running as scheduled between Washington and Philadelphia. A dozen were canceled and many more were listed as “status currently unavailable,” according to Amtrak’s website. The Boston-to-New York City route appeared to have a similar number of trains operating.

Amtrak has offered no indication of when regular service would be restored.

See Photos of the Amtrak Train Crash in Philadelphia

Emergency personnel work the scene of the Amtrak train wreck on May 12, 2015 in Philadelphia.
Emergency personnel work the scene of the Amtrak train wreck on May 12, 2015 in Philadelphia.Joseph Kaczmarek—AP
Emergency personnel work the scene of the Amtrak train wreck on May 12, 2015 in Philadelphia.
Emergency personnel work the scene of the Amtrak train wreck on May 12, 2015 in Philadelphia.Joseph Kaczmarek—AP
Emergency personnel help a passenger at the scene of the Amtrak train wreck on May 12, 2015 in Philadelphia.
Emergency personnel help a passenger at the scene of the Amtrak train wreck on May 12, 2015 in Philadelphia.Joseph Kaczmarek—AP
Rescue workers climb into the wreckage of a derailed Amtrak train to search for victims in Philadelphia on May 12, 2015.
Rescue workers climb into the wreckage of a derailed Amtrak train to search for victims in Philadelphia on May 12, 2015.Bryan Woolston—Reuters
Emergency personnel work the scene of a train wreck on May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.
Emergency personnel work the scene of a train wreck on May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.Joseph Kaczmarek—AP
Emergency personnel work the scene of the Amtrak train wreck on May 12, 2015 in Philadelphia.
Emergency personnel work the scene of the Amtrak train wreck on May 12, 2015 in Philadelphia.Joseph Kaczmarek—AP
A crime scene investigator looks inside a train car after a train wreck on May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.
A crime scene investigator looks inside a train car after a train wreck on May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.Joseph Kaczmarek—AP
A police officer takes a seat near the wreckage of an Amtrak passenger train which derailed in Philadelphia on May 12, 2015.
A police officer takes a seat near the wreckage of an Amtrak passenger train which derailed in Philadelphia on May 12, 2015.Mark Makela—Getty Images
Officials survey the site of a derailed Amtrak train in Philadelphia on May 13, 2015.
Officials survey the site of a derailed Amtrak train in Philadelphia on May 13, 2015. Mike Segar—Reuters

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Write to Justin Worland at justin.worland@time.com