Watch CBS News

Feds: Amtrak Must Retrain Track Workers On Basic Safety

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Amtrak has been ordered to immediately retrain track workers on basic safety rules after a passenger train struck and killed two Amtrak employees near Philadelphia.

The Federal Railroad Administration order suggests the workers killed Sunday may not have been told the track was being reopened to train traffic.

The directive orders Amtrak to reinforce the rule that a track will not be reopened until all workers have either left the area or been warned about an approaching train.

Investigators say the Amtrak passenger train had only five seconds to brake before crashing into a backhoe in use on the track. The backhoe operator and a supervisor were killed. Both men were veteran Amtrak employees.

Amtrak says it will comply with the order.

(© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.