Passengers Stuck On Boston-Bound Train For Hours Without Power
MYSTIC, Conn. (CBS/AP) — Amtrak says 299 passengers headed for Boston were stuck on a cold, dark train for more than three hours after it lost power in Connecticut.
Spokesman Craig Schulz said the Acela train from Washington, D.C., became disabled at 6:25 p.m. Thursday near Mystic, Connecticut.
No passengers or crew members were injured.
Passengers told WBZ-TV's Susie Steimle that it was a frustrating experience, especially given the lack of information provided to passengers.
"There was really no communication," one passenger said. "People were going on the website to try and figure out what was happening. Even the conductors weren't really sure."
Schulz said the problem was likely due to ice and snow on the overhead power system.
Passengers were transferred to a train on adjacent tracks at 9:30 p.m. The arrived in Boston's South Station at around midnight.
With no lights on the train, passengers were left to use glow sticks to see in the dark.
The train was nearly full, leaving a standing room crowd in a confined area for several hours.
"About 45 minutes after the lights went out, it got a little stinky. I guess when people's batteries die on their laptops and cell phones and stuff, they get a little cranky," one female passenger said, adding that transferring to a new train was a breath of fresh air. "We were just glad to be warm in a train with circulating air and functioning toilets."
Another train from Lynchburg, Virginia, to Boston was sent within an hour to pick up the stranded passengers, but it also lost power when it neared the Acela train.
Schulz said that train was carrying 400 passengers and regained power at about 9:45 p.m.
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