Amtrak train derails in Montana killing three and over 50 injured

In Montana, three people have been killed and  50 others hurt after a Amtrak Empire Builder passenger train derailed several carriages at about 16:00 local time ( 22:00 GMT) near the town of Joplin.

The train cars on their sides and luggage strewn on the ground with people standing nearby. Amtrak said there were some 141 passengers and 16 crew aboard the Chicago to Seattle service.

Eyewitness said the derailment felt like extreme turbulence on a plane.

Senator Steve Dianes tweeted he was “closely monitoring this situation”.

The US National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the accident.

In 2018, three people were killed when an Amtrak train travelled on to the wrong track and hit a parked freight train.