Eight cars of Amtrak Southwest Chief, Train No. 4, derailed shortly after midnight Central Time on March 14.
The train, operating from Los Angeles to Chicago, derailed approximately 20 miles west of Dodge City, Kansas, on a track owned and maintained by BNSF. There were 131 passengers and 14 crew members on board the train that had two locomotives and ten cars.
Local emergency responders provided on-site response and transported 32 passengers to hospitals in Garden City and Dodge City. Of those transported, 28 passengers were discharged this morning. All other passengers were transported to the 4-H Recreation Center in Cimarron, Kansas, and provided alternate transportation to their final destination. The Red Cross and other relief agencies provided on-site assistance to those passengers.
Amtrak is cooperating with the NTSB who is investigating the cause of the incident.
Persons who were aboard this train at the time of the incident and friends and family of those aboard this train have a special number to call for information: 800-523-9101. Amtrak Southwest Chief Trains 3 and 4, will detour from Newton, Kan., to Albuquerque, N.M., for trains originating March 14.
