1996 Maryland train collision
On February 16, 1996, a MARC commuter train collided with Amtrak's Capitol Limited passenger train in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, killing three crew and eight passengers on the MARC train; a further eleven passengers on the same train and fifteen passengers and crew on the Capitol Limited were injured. Total damage was estimated at $7.5 million.
| 1996 Maryland train collision | |
|---|---|
Aerial photograph of the collision. The MARC commuter train is on the left, the Capitol Limited on the right. | |
| Details | |
| Date | February 16, 1996 5:39 pm |
| Location | Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 39.0008°N 77.0423°W |
| Country | United States |
| Operator | MARC Amtrak |
| Incident type | Collision |
| Cause | Signal passed at danger due to driver error of the MARC train, having forgotten to comply with the requirements of an approach signal. |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 2 |
| Passengers | 184 |
| Deaths | 11 |
| Injured | 26 |
An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that the crew of the MARC train had forgotten the indication of an approach signal which they had passed before a station stop, and as a consequence could not slow down in time after encountering a stop signal.
The crash led to the creation of comprehensive federal rules for passenger car design, the first in the history of passenger service in the U.S., as well as changes to operating rules.