AP analysis of surveillance video indicates Amtrak train in deadly crash was travelling 107 mph

WASHINGTON – An analysis by The Associated Press of surveillance video just before the deadly crash of an Amtrak train indicates it was travelling about 107 miles per hour (170kph) as it approached a curve where the speed limit was only 50 miles (80 kilometres) per hour.

The video shows the train — which was roughly 662 feet long (200 metres) — passes the camera in just over five seconds.

But AP found that the surveillance video inexplicably plays back slightly slower than in real time.

So, adjusting for the slower playback puts the train’s estimated speed at 107 miles per hour. The surveillance camera was located at a site just before the bend in the tracks.

Light from an apparent explosion is visible in the video just over three seconds after the train passes.