NTL Record

Title Passenger/Freight train collision September 12, 2008, Chatsworth, CA
Record ID 62595
Personal Name
Creator
Jeong, David; Severson, Kristine; Jacobsen, Karina; Carolan, Michael; Lapre, Pete; Whelan, Charlie; Schuster, Jennifer; Sandler, Marc; Marceau, Phillip
Source 67p. in various pagings
Corporate Creator John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research, Development, and Technology; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Railroad Policy and Development
Publisher United States. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Railroad Policy and Development; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research, Development, and Technology
Publication Date 20170929
Language English
Abstract On September 12, 2008, a passenger train and freight train collided head-on in the Chatsworth district of Los Angeles, CA. Each train was initially travelling at more than 40 mph. Twenty-five people were killed and approximately 138 were injured, many severely. With assistance from emergency responders, local authorities, and accident survivors, both the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rail Accident Forensic Team and the National Transportation Safety Board investigated the accident. This report on the Chatsworth accident by the Forensic Team presents the estimated sequence of events of the collision, the behavior (dynamics) and specific structures of the trains, passenger injuries, the performance of emergency preparedness and crashworthiness features, and recommendations for enhanced protections to improve passenger safety in the future. The appendices include greater technical detail on the train structures and dynamics, and passenger experiences.
Rosap ID dot:35576
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/35576
TRT Terms Railroad safety; Railroad transportation; Crash investigation; Freight trains; Passenger trains; Crashes; Locomotives; Behavior; Crashworthiness
Classification AGR - SAFETY AND SECURITY - SAFETY AND SECURITY;
NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - RAIL TRANSPORTATION;
NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - Rail Safety;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Accidents;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Rail Safety
Geographical
Coverage
California
TRIS Online
Accession No
1648524
Contract Number DTFR53-15-X-00042; RR28A4/QJ2C6, QJ2C7
Report Number DOT/FRA/ORD-17/20
Availability Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Center
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/62000/62500/62595/Chatsworth_2008_Appendices_A.1-_B.3.pdf
Alternative URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/62000/62500/62594/Chatsworth_2008_main_report.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository