NORTHFIELD — Travelers experienced delays Tuesday afternoon after an Amtrak passenger train heading southbound from Brattleboro, Vermont, to Greenfield derailed while switching tracks near Railroad Station Road.
While the Northfield Fire and Police departments ensured the 113 passengers on board the train were uninjured, the Northfield Highway Department cleared snow from the area between the five-car train and Railroad Station Road. Amtrak officials and Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency workers also responded.
As passengers remained in the train cars, awaiting buses, Fire Chief Floyd “Skip” Dunnell III explained that the train was on a reduced speed of 7 mph, and slid off the snow-and-ice-covered switch between the two tracks at approximately 2:30 p.m. He noted that the passengers had been kept warm and that no fluids had leaked from the train.
“When the engine hit that switch or cross point, it was built up with ice and snow. The engine actually slid off the switch,” Dunnell explained. “We had a couple of our neighboring towns that offered assistance, but once we got here, we found there were no injuries, no extrication needed. [It was] just a matter of coordinating with the railroad taking care of the passenger transport.”
Police Sgt. Oleg Cobileanschi, who was the first officer to arrive, said it would ultimately be Amtrak’s responsibility to take care of the train itself and transport passengers.
On-scene Amtrak personnel declined to comment.
