The line was carrying passengers for the first time today
At least 'six people' have been killed (click here) after a high-speed train derailed off a bridge and onto a packed highway in Washington.
Authorities confirmed there have been a 'number of fatalities' after the train crashed in Dupont as it travelled between Seattle and Portland in rush hour, at around 7.45am local time (3.45pm UK time).
US media reports suggest that the majority of travellers - more than 70 of 77 passengers and five crew on board - have been transferred to hospital with "major injuries".
Emergency services battled to rescue several trapped on carriages.
Dramatic pictures from the scene show part of the train hanging from a bridge onto Interstate 5 where it struck vehicles - but no motorists were killed in the crash, it's reported.
Train 501 which crashed is now known to have been travelling the route for the first time when it crashed about 40 miles south of Seattle.
It's since emerged there were warnings that there would a fatal accident involving high-speed trains by the local mayor just a fortnight ago.
It's still unclear what caused the derailment - but there is speculation that the train 'hit something at 81mph'.
For live updates see below:
At least 70 people were sent to St Joseph Hospital, according to CHI Franciscan Health. 20 were sent to the Madigan Army Medical Center emergency center... [Real-time updates:
kiro.tv/TrainDerailsI5 ]....out of 78 passengers and five crew who were on board the train when it derailed off a bridge....
...“The City of Seattle has offered our assistance and aid to Pierce and Thurston counties, and is ready to work with Amtrak, local, state, and federal officials as they manage the response and deal with the aftermath of this tragic incident.”...
