Amtrak service between Philadelphia and New York was delayed for many hours Thursday evening after three family members were fatally struck by a train near Bristol Station in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, officials said.
According to the Bristol Borough Police Department, the three family members were hit just before 6 p.m. by an Amtrak Acela train heading south toward Philadelphia. The actual details of the collision were still unknown.
“This is a horrific tragedy,” Bristol Borough Police Chief Joseph Moors said.
In a separate statement, Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, whose district includes Bristol, stated that the train was headed from Boston to Richmond, Virginia. He stated that there were 236 passengers and crew members aboard at the time, and none of them were injured. Shuttle buses transported passengers from the train to other stations.
Amtrak announced in an update just after 10:45 p.m. that service had resumed on the lines between Philadelphia and New York. “All services operating through the area will be operating at restricted speeds,” according to Amtrak’s X. “Trains traveling through this area may experience residual delays.” Thank you for being so patient at this time.”
SEPTA service on the West Trenton Line was also suspended. SEPTA stated that riders can locate substitute service suggestions on its website.
Moors stated that the scenario is still alive. He stated that the next update on the incident would be delivered on Friday AM.
Ashley Spencer, a Bristol resident, said she heard the loudest screech she had ever heard in her life. “Like it was trying to brake and it couldn’t.”
This is the second pedestrian fatality caused by an Amtrak train in Bucks County this week. On Wednesday, an Amtrak train struck and killed a person near Cornwells Heights station.
