WILMINGTON-U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement after an Amtrak train derailed between Wilmington and Philadelphia earlier today.

"My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this accident, all the passengers who were aboard the train, and their families. I am also grateful for the first responders and the medical professionals who responded to the scene.

"As someone who rides Amtrak almost every day between Wilmington and Washington, I know well how upsetting this accident is for people who travel up and down the Northeast Corridor.

"My office is in direct contact with Amtrak and the National Transportation Safety Board, and I will be pressing each of them for information on how this accident occurred. Safety has to be the number one concern for Amtrak, and I will do everything I can to ensure Amtrak and the federal government respond to this incident appropriately."