'Opportunistic' Donald Trump claims Amtrak passenger train derailment is sign of 'horrible infrastructure problems' only he can fix

Business magnate warns train wrecks are 'just the beginning' for America

Donald Trump has weighed in on the devastating Amtrak train derailment that killed six by claiming the tragedy highlighted a wider infrastructure problem only he is capable of resolving.

The outspoken business magnate was branded “opportunistic” and “shameless” on Wednesday for politicising the crash. More than 140 people were hospitalised and at least five are in a critical condition after Train 188 came off the tracks in Philadelphia.

His tweets also reignited speculation he could be announcing his candidacy for the 2016 Presidential election.

In a post referring to the Amtrak crash, he declared the US has “horrible infrastructure problems” that politicians cannot solve.

“The only one to fix the infrastructure of our country is me - roads, airports, bridges," he wrote. "I know how to build, pols only know how to talk!"

He also warned train wrecks were "just the beginning" for America. Unsurprisingly, his opinions were not well-received.

Trump has repeatedly hinted that he could be throwing his hat into the ring as a Republican contender and announced that he was forming an “exploratory committee” to examine the possibility of him running for nomination in March.

An investigation into what caused the Amtrak train to derail was launched on Wednesday. All seven train cars, including the engine, were left in "various stages of disarray" by the crash and many passengers had to crawl free from the wreckage to safety.