Kaine Statement On Fatal Amtrak Crash

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on last night’s fatal Amtrak crash in Philadelphia:

“My heart goes out to the loved ones of those killed or seriously injured in last night's tragic Amtrak derailment. Investigations are underway, and we should reserve judgment until we understand exactly how this happened.  But one thing is clear – the state of repair of the nation’s transit infrastructure is not where it should be.  I am concerned that it is penny-wise and pound-foolish to cut Amtrak capital investment at a time when incidents on rail happen all too regularly.  We have seen in Virginia the benefits of transit – Amtrak, VRE and Metro – for commuters, tourism and the state economy.  Passenger safety must be everyone’s top priority, and as Congress examines what changes are needed in the wake of this tragedy, it must also make sure that the dollars are there to fix aging infrastructure.”

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