Delaware senators statement on Amtrak crash

Delaware Senator Tom Carper got off the train in Wilmington before it crashed in Philadelphia Tuesday night.

Carper, like the rest of of Delaware’s Congressional Delegation, uses Amtrak to travel between Delaware and Washington, D.C. Last night, Carper got off Amtrak Train 188 in Wilmington. The train continued on to Philadelphia before crashing near the city’s Port Richmond neighborhood. 

Carper issued the following statement following the crash: 

“I am grateful to be home safe and sound in Wilmington, and my heart goes out to all those on the train tonight. I hope all of those that are injured recover quickly, and I will keep them in my thoughts and prayers.”

 

Senator Chris Coons also is a frequent passenger on Amtrak between Wilmington and Washington. He issued a statement and said his thoughts and prayers are with the passengers and Amtrak employees who were on board the train last night. He also expressed the importance of funding infrastructure improvements in light of Tuesday night’s crash:

“As someone who rides Amtrak between Wilmington and Washington almost every day, I know how critical Amtrak is to families, businesses, and communities in Delaware and throughout the Northeast. As a member of the Senate, last night’s tragedy is yet another stark reminder of why we must act now to invest in our transportation infrastructure, including Amtrak. I’ll continue working to ensure Amtrak and passenger rail services throughout the country have the federal resources and policies they need to operate safely and efficiently. ”

The train was carrying 243 people from Washington, D.C., to New York City on Tuesday night when it derailed.