Crime & Safety

NTSB: Hudson Line Train Was Going 82 MPH Before Derailment

By Lanning Taliaferro and Krista Madsen

The National Transportation Safety Board examined the two event recorders and reports that the Metro-North train was going a staggering 82 miles per hour while entering a 30 mph bend when it derailed.

“When I heard about the speed, I gulped. It sort of takes your breath away,” U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) said in a press conferencereported on by CBS News. “For a train to be going 82 mph around that curve is just a frightening thought. And the fact that it was going 82 mph even in the 70 mph zone before the curve started raises so many questions, and it’s scary.”

Officials have yet to determine why the train was going so fast.
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Meanwhile, communities are remembering their loved oneslost in Sunday's tragic derailment of a Hudson line Metro-North passenger train.

Montrose resident James Ferrari, 59, is being called a kind, hard-working man who put family first. "He did everything for his family," friend Joe Duraes said. Read more about Ferrari here
Jim Lovell, 58, of Cold Spring, the husband of Philipstown Councilwoman Nancy Montgomery, was an audio technician for the Today show and on his way to help with setting up Rockefeller Center's Christmas tree lighting, NBC reports

The GoFundMe campaign created to raise money for his family is seeing a huge and fast outpouring of generosity. 

Senator Greg Ball (R-40) wrote of Lovell, "James was a caring and giving member of Putnam's community and my heart breaks for his wife, as well as their lovely children and the entire family that are now struggling with this enormous loss." 
Read more about Lovell here. 

Donna Smith, 54, of Newburgh, was off to see her sister's choral group perform Handel’s “Messiah”, according to the New York Times. Smith, a paralegal, is described as incredibly giving to her community as a regular mentor and volunteer in many capacities.

Kisook Ahn, 35, of Queens, was a registered nurse from Woodside, Queens, the Wall Street Journal wrote, reporting that she was on her way home from working the night shift at the Sunshine Children's Home and Rehab Center in Ossining. 

“She was just loved and adored by all of the nurses and children here,” Linda Mosiello, the facility’s administrator, told the WSJ of Ahn, who worked mostly with those severely ill in the nursery.

Read more about Ahn here.

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Assemblywoman Sandy Galef
 (D-95) has issued a statement Monday on the tragedy:

The tragic train derailment that took place yesterday has left all of us reeling.  My heart goes out to the victims and their families of this horrible accident.  The majority of the stops on this train were in my Assembly District.  Unfortunately, I am sure that in addition to the two lives lost in my district, the names of others injured will soon be reported who are our neighbors and friends as well.

I am determined to ensure New York supports any and all efforts to fix and improve our rails and the systems that run them so all that utilize the railway as a critical and valuable resource can feel safe and confident when they do so.  I will be tracking the accident investigation to determine how improvements can best be made to the system.

If anyone should need any help that my office may be able to expedite as a result of the accident, I encourage them to call me at 914-941-1111.

Find out what's happening in Bronxville-Eastchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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The 26,000 people who use the Hudson Line on weekdays are developing new commuter patterns while the National Transportation Safety Board continues its investigation ofyesterday's deadly train derailment. 

Metro-North officials have encouraged commuters to ride the Harlem Line as an alternative.

They have also set up a shuttle system at the Yonkers station to take people to the subway stop at 242nd Street. Hudson Line will continue to be cross-honored on the subway, the MTA said. 

"Cranes and other special heavy equipment are being positioned to remove the rail cars from the area so that repairs can begin," the MTA wrote on its website. "The equipment will arrive this evening begin work following clearance from the NTSB and work will continue through the night."

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Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-17) offered her thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families, a thanks to first responders, and a push for an intense investigation and greater safety. She issued this statement:

My thoughts and prayers are with victims of this morning's tragedy on the Metro-North Railroad in the Bronx and their families.

Find out what's happening in Bronxville-Eastchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On this horrific day for New York, I also extend heartfelt thanks to our first responders for their assistance and ongoing response. 

We must devote every federal resource available to determine what happened and what must be done to keep passengers safe today and in the future. I will work with the National Transportation Safety Board to ensure a thorough and expeditious investigation.

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The leaders of the Metro-North Railroad Commuter Councilexpressed a shaken commuter confidence in the wake of the fourth incident with injuries this year on the railroad. “The riders whom we represent must be assured they are safe when they travel on a Metro-North train, but their confidence in the Railroad has been shaken." Click here for their full statement

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Those who want to opt out of this week's tough commutealtogether are urged to work from these office options in Tarrytown, White Plains and Hawthorne


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