New York

Unions: Amtrak Engineer Had Grueling Shift Before Derailment

Union officials are offering new details on how an Amtrak engineer spent the hours before the last week's deadly derailment in Philadelphia.

Railroad Workers United says Wednesday that Brandon Bostian's shift May 12 had been grueling and his rest break was shortened by equipment-related delays on his earlier train to Washington.

The train arrived 26 minutes late, leaving Bostian about an hour to rest and eat before his trip back to New York on the Northeast Regional train that eventually derailed.

Engineers used to have at least 90 minutes between trips, but a March 23 schedule change ended the decades-old practice.

Amtrak says the changes meet federal safety regulations.

Bostian talked to investigators May 15 and did not report feeling fatigued or ill prior to the derailment.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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