US train engineer 'saw track problem'

The state of the track could be crucial to the inquiry

The engineer of the crowded train that derailed in Florida, killing four people and injuring 159, slammed on the emergency brakes because he saw a problem on the tracks, according to US investigators.

George Black of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the engineer was trying to stop the train in reaction to "something he saw wrong with the tracks".

You could feel things were going wrong - it wasn't a smooth track any more

Passenger Don Sein

He did not elaborate, but said officials planned to talk at length to the engineer later.

Experts have converged on the site of the crash near the north-east Florida town of Crescent City to try to find out what caused the Amtrak Auto Train to come off the rails.

Both the train and the tracks had been inspected within hours of the accident and no problems were found.

George Black said the train was within the speed limit

Bulldozers have been moved in to try to right the carriages that toppled over on Thursday, just over an hour into the train's overnight journey to the suburbs of Washington DC.

Passengers on the train - popular with holidaymakers combining visits to the nation's capital with Florida's theme parks - reported hearing screeching brakes before the accident.

Don Sein, of New York, said: "We felt two hard braking movements and then you could feel things were going wrong.

"It wasn't a smooth track any more. And then everyone just held on as the train went off the track."

Passengers trapped

Mr Black said the train was travelling at about 56mph (90kph), within the 60mph speed limit.

Investigators have been climbing into the carriages looking for evidence

He added that the train's crew had undergone blood and urine tests purely for requirements.

NTSB investigators have been photographing the scene and using ladders to climb into the carriages strewn over the track.

Some 21 of the train's 40 cars derailed, including 14 of the 16 passenger cars.

Many passengers escaped through windows but dozens were trapped inside for hours.

Investigators have said four people died, revising downwards an earlier report of six fatalities. Amtrak said 159 people were treated at hospitals for injuries, some serious.