Cummings’ Statement on Amtrak Train Derailment 5.13.15

Cummings’ Statement on Amtrak Train Derailment
 
Washington, DC (May 13, 2015) – Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, released the following statement today after a deadly Amtrak train derailment in Philadelphia, PA.
 
“I offer my deepest condolences to the families of those killed in Tuesday’s train derailment and I am hopeful that those who suffered injuries will recover quickly.
 
“The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash and I look forward to receiving the results of the investigation.
 
“While we do not yet know the cause of last night’s accident, we do know that there are stretches of the Northeast Corridor – particularly in urban corridors – that are very old and that have tight curves, low ceilings, and speed restrictions.  In many areas, we are trying to provide rail service using 19th century infrastructure – and yet Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee have proposed cutting capital funding for Amtrak.
 
“Rather than cutting funding for a service used by tens of millions of Americans every year, we should be expanding our investments and ensuring that Amtrak’s infrastructure is brought into a state of good repair and then updated to serve the needs of a 21st century ridership.”
 
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