Amtrak Acela Train Decouples While Traveling At 120 MPH

Amtrak passengers aboard the high-speed Acela Express train were left shaken after a mechanical failure caused two of the cars to separate while the train was traveling at 120 miles-per-hour. Nobody was injured in the accident. 

Amtrak said the decoupling was the result of a mechanical failure. 

The New York Daily News reports that the 52 passengers were escorted out of the back of the train and were transferred to Northeast Regional Train 180. 

A person on board the train uploaded photos on Twitter showing the scene inside the train car. As the two cars separated Andrew Exum said "sparks and smoke went everywhere," and the train lost power, leaving the cars in darkness. 

Photo: Getty Iamges