Update on SacRT Light Rail Incident

SACRAMENTO, CA – An accident involving the collision of two Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) light rail trains occurred on Thursday, August 22. At around 9:38 p.m., a passenger light rail train rear-ended a stopped light rail train undergoing maintenance testing. The incident occurred on the Blue Line in between the Roseville Road and Marconi/Arcade light rail stations. It is a standard safety practice for maintenance personnel to test trains that have been repaired on the main line with revenue service trains. This is required by the Federal Transit Administration to ensure mechanical issues have been repaired correctly prior to the train being placed back in revenue service.

There were a total of 27 people onboard, 24 on the passenger train and three on the train conducting routine maintenance testing. A total of 13 people were sent to area hospitals, 12 with minor injuries and one person with moderate injuries. Everyone else was released at the scene. SacRT is saddened for all that were impacted by the accident, but grateful that there were no serious injuries. The cause of the incident is still under investigation at this time. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the California Public Utilities Commission and SacRT are conducting independent investigations to make a final determination. The City of Sacramento Police are on scene to help keep the area secure during the investigation.

A bus bridge was immediately put in place and is expected to continue for the remainder of today, Friday, August 23, between the Roseville Road Station and the Marconi/Arcade Station to transport light rail riders to and from stations. Although a small section of light rail is impacted, SacRT staff is on site to provide assistance and guide riders to the special service buses. SacRT personnel are doing everything they can to minimize the impact to our customers.

Safety and security remains a top priority for SacRT. This is only the second time within a 32-year period that this type of accident has occurred. Our safety and security record remains one of the top in the transportation industry.