Cascades train 501 DuPont, WA derailment - Positive Train Control not yet activated
S5 · 18 Dec 2017 · Amtrak · DuPont, WA, USA
Record
| Company | Amtrak |
| Industry | Other |
| Type(s) | fatality |
| Date | 18 Dec 2017 (day precision) |
| Time of day | 07:34 PT |
| Location | DuPont, WA, USA · DuPont rail bypass |
| Severity | (fatality or catastrophic loss) |
| Scale | 1 train (multiple cars) / 3 fatalities, ~70 injured |
| Confidence | high |
| Verified flag | Yes - independently re-checked against the cited source |
Summary
Amtrak Cascades train 501 derailed on a curve near DuPont, Washington while traveling 78 mph in a 30 mph zone on a new bypass route; NTSB found the probable cause was the railroad's failure to provide an effective process for managing the transition, compounded by the absence of an activated Positive Train Control (automatic overspeed protection) system. 3 passengers died and dozens were injured.
Primary source
Publisher: NWPB · Retrieved: 2026-09-16
Supporting source rows (1)
| Date | Supporting source row | Publisher | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Dec 2017 | Cascades train 501 DuPont, WA derailment - Positive Train Control not yet activated | NWPB | NWPB |
Other context
fatality context
Amtrak industry position
Related incidents
Other Amtrak entries
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