Two Amtrak train cars derailed Tuesday morning at the tunnel entrance to Union Station in Washington, D.C., causing Amtrak to suspend all service between D.C. and Richmond, Virginia, authorities say.
No injuries were initially reported, and medics were evaluating one passenger, D.C. Fire and EMS said.
Amtrak said its train 86 was going at a low speed in the tunnel south of Union Station when it derailed about 8:50 a.m. The train stayed upright, according to Amtrak and fire officials.
One Amtrak employee was taken to a hospital for evaluation, Amtrak said. It's unclear if that's the same person medics were examining at the scene.
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All passengers who were on the train were taken to the L’Enfant VRE station and provided alternate transportation to Union Station, Amtrak said.
The train had come from Norfolk, Virginia, and was headed north into Union Station when the two cars derailed in the tunnel.
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In the station, rail passengers said they were frustrated by what they called a lack of communication by Amtrak.
“It’s ruining everybody’s day. There are people who have to go to work — I have to go to work. And we just can’t find any other alternative,” one woman said.
Amtrak delays and cancellations
Amtrak said all service is temporarily suspended between the D.C. and Richmond stations while crews inspect the area and work to "re-rail" the two cars that went off the tracks.
The train blocked the tunnel just south of D.C. on the way to Alexandria (ALX), Amtrak reported at 9 a.m.
Check the latest service information on Amtrak's Twitter account.
In June, a train experienced a mechanical failure and derailed heading through a tunnel after L'Enfant Plaza. That train was able to re-rail itself and remained upright, according to Amtrak, but caused service delays in the area.
This is a developing story. Stay with News4 for more updates.
