New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said there is no estimate for when the Hoboken, N.J., station that was the scene of a devastating high-speed train crash will reopen.
“When we determine it’s safe we’ll reopen the building, but not a minute earlier,” said the New Jersey governor at a press conference following a tour of the station Thursday.
He said engineers are currently inspecting the site and determining the extent of any structural damage. Service is expected to resume in the afternoon, as another terminal has been deemed safe and transit system authorities are taking steps to ensure the system will be working at full capacity for the rush-hour commute.
A morning commuter train coming from New York crashed at high speeds into a Hoboken train station, killing at least one person and injuring 108 others. One witness said the train’s engineer was slumped over in his seat at the front of the train. The locomotive reportedly never stopped and jumped over an emergency buffer.
The train was not equipped with positive train control, a system designed to automatically stop runaway trains in their tracks. Christie reported the individual killed was not in the train but was hit by building debris.
Christie said the engineer operating the train is currently in critical condition but is cooperating with the investigation.
Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo acknowledge that the train was certainly going too fast, but little else is known, including what measures could have prevented it. They both stressed that there is no indication that the incident was anything other than a tragic accident.
“We’re not going to speculate about the cause of the accident. The fact is that we are in the midst of an investigation,” said Christie, adding they hope to come to a conclusion as soon as possible before considering if “steps need to be taken thereafter to provide for a greater assurance of safety.”
Cuomo said between terrorist attacks and natural disasters, the Northeast has suffered tremendously, but assured the public that authorities are doing their best to respond to the tragedy.
“We will have the system up and running as fast as humanly possible,” said Cuomo.
