We don't know the cause yet. It could be poor track maintenance or it could be something else, like excessive speed in a turn.

The federal government has the resources to maintain and upgrade the lines.

Last edited Mon Dec 18, 2017, 11:12 PM - Edit history (1)

(Edited with information from WSDOT statement indicating the tracks are actually owned by Sound Trnasit):

Link to tweet

were also brand new.
Plus Amtrak is already nationalized.

Sound Transit was created in 1993 by King, Pierce and Snohomish counties to build a regional rapid transit system.

...

Sound Transit is independent of local transit agencies and is governed by a 18-member Board of Directors made up of elected officials from member jurisdictions and the Secretary of Transportation. It is funded by local sales taxes, property taxes, and motor vehicle excise taxes, levied within its taxing district in portions of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. The agency has passed three major ballot measures to fund system expansion, including Sound Move (1996), Sound Transit 2 (2008) and Sound Transit 3 (2016). Planning and construction of new light rail lines is anticipated to continue until 2041 under the Sound Transit 3 plan.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_Transit

Yet, being managed by elected politicians, they did not implement Positive Train Control on their brand new tracks.

I seriously doubt track safety standards were brushed aside here.

It was all brand new track bed and track. I've been watching it for the last 2 years. It was a 181 mil $$ project.

No where if it was that modern would they make a curve and the bridge crossing 80mph. They would have changed it or realigned it.

...there’s no evidence that this was a maintenance issue. Let’s wait for details.

Amtrak Train Traveled at 80 M.P.H., Far Over Limit, Before Derailing

I think rather, this emphasizes the case for waiting until all relevant information is available prior to coming to a policy decision.

Unless of course (as it strongly appears), the power of prophecy is yours to command, and your reading of the entrails is done with the accompanying scent of burning incense.

Leaving this to the magic of your bias will lead to knee-jerk reactions happening over, and over, and over again....

The entire route had been updated. The problem appears to have been excessive speed where there is a curve in the route.

Nationally owned railroad routes would almost certainly guarantee poor maintenance, if our roadways are any evidence.

I think that you should, perhaps, learn more about this accident. You're way off-base on this one.

At first glance this appears to be completely on the person operating this train.

Congrats Ken!

They neglected maintenance on the first run of a brand track! For profits!