Probe Finds TriMet Had No Procedures For Severe Ice Conditions Before Derailment

The investigation into the January 13 derailment of a MAX train by the Rose Quarter revealed that TriMet did not have a policy in place dealing with unusually icy situations.

"Ice accumulation in the rail was sufficient to allow the wheels to climb off the rail," Oregon Department of Transportation investigator Gary Ferguson wrote in his report on the incident in which no one was injured.

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The train, which was the first of the day on the tracks, had been going between three and five miles per hour when the derailment happened, rolled about 10 feet.

It took more than four hours to get the train back on the track.

"While there is (standard operating procedure) that deals with operating procedures in high water situations there is no guidance for instances of
ice," Ferguson wrote. "These types of events do not happen frequently in this area however in light of this incident adding some language for operating procedures when ice is present is advisable.

"TriMet is re-evaluating current SOPs and procedures to be sure they are more adequately prepared for operating during this type of weather event in the future."

File photo Colin Miner