At least 11 people were critically injured, Gov. Andrew Cumo said as federal crash investigators arrived on the scene and began looking into the cause of the crash.
More than 130 firefighters and responders helped extricate passengers and crew at the crash site, which was along a curve near the confluence of the two rivers 100 yards north of the Spuyten Duyvil train station.
Rescue teams used giant inflatable air bags to lift one rail coach and remove people who'd been thrown from the southbound train and were trapped underneath.
A crane was being brought to the scene to lift the derailed cars upright. NTSB investigator Earl Weener said all of the seven-car train's cars left the tracks.
The train's engineer was among the injured survivors, and Weener said investigators would interview all crew members in the next two days.
The train was traveling in a configuration with the engine pushing the train from the rear, behind the passenger cars.
