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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Amtrak train in South Carolina stalled for 29 hours, conductor tells riders who dial 911 they're not 'hostage' |
| 2023-01-12 |
| [FoxBusinessNews] Hundreds of Amtrak passengers stranded after vehicle on tracks causes freight train derailment. An Amtrak Auto Train, a specialized train allowing passengers to take their vehicles with them to drive after their rail journeys, was headed from Washington, D.C., Monday and expected to arrive at the final destination of Sanford, Florida, at about 10 a.m. Tuesday, the Washington Post reported. Instead, after the train made its scheduled stop in Lorton, Virginia, at about 5:30 p.m. Monday, it was diverted because of the derailment of a CSX freight train, coming to a halt in wooded area near Denmark, South Carolina. ABC News reported that the train was left stranded in the rural area for more than 29 hours afterward. But on Wednesday morning, Amtrak spokeswoman Christina Leeds said that was not accurate. The train arrived in Sanford, Florida, Wednesday morning, with an approximate 20-hour delay, Leeds told Fox News Digital. "The Amtrak Auto Train had significant delays due to a CSX freight derailment in South Carolina," she said. "The train was detoured off its normal route in order to continue operating south, adding additional time to the trip. Customers were provided regular updates, along with meals, snack packs, and beverages. Additional food from local businesses along the route was also provided during the trip. "Amtrak apologizes for the delay," Leeds added. "We will be working with each customer on fare refunds." In one video, a conductor is heard making an announcement after some passengers reportedly dialed 911 or otherwise called local police telling them they were being held hostage on the train. "Once again, for those of you that are calling the police, we are not holding you hostage," the speaker is heard announcing to passengers. "We are giving you all the information of which we have. We are sorry about the inconvenience. As soon as more information is available, we will let you know shortly." The train was further delayed while waiting for a new crew with specialized training to operate it. The initial crew could no longer legally operate the train, reports said. In an email to the Post, Leeds also said employees onboard were working with pet owners to arrange bathroom breaks for animals. But some passengers told media outlets feces was spotted on the floor of the train and dogs had not initially been allowed off the train in South Carolina. A statement from CSX to the WJLA news station in Washington, D.C., provided more details. "Just before 11:00 p.m. Monday, a CSX freight train came in contact with an unoccupied vehicle on the tracks at Charles Street in Lake City, SC resulting in the derailment of 25 rail cars and two locomotives, which remained upright," it said. "There were no injuries to the crew of the train and no hazardous materials involved. CSX crews are on site working to safely clear the tracks and restore the area." Passengers reportedly said the train had begun moving again Tuesday night. One passenger told WJLA that they were told they needed to wait a minimum of another 90 minutes once they reach their final destination in Florida for their vehicle to be unloaded from the train. Debuted in 1983, the Amtrak Auto Train is advertised today as "a stress-free journey by rail, skipping the traffic congestion on I-95." Amtrak has been plagued by extended delays in recent years. More than one in five Amtrak trains was late in 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In October, passengers who took what was supposed to be a five-hour Amtrak train trip from Detroit to Chicago instead waited 19 hours with no electricity, water or food. |
| Posted by:Skidmark |
| #11 Some local wags with a PA and some banjo music could have had a lot of fun. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2023-01-12 18:58 |
| #10 They wouldnt let us... The 5 conductors? |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2023-01-12 16:24 |
| #9 Perhaps our Secretary of Transportation is right on this? More and more seems to be going wrong under his administration... |
| Posted by: Tom 2023-01-12 15:06 |
| #8 I was on SEPTA once and my train hit a jumper. They wouldnt let us out of the train, and we were right at the platform. Was ridiculous. I bailed out one of the windows. You are not hostage, but we will not let you off the train... |
| Posted by: mossomo 2023-01-12 12:48 |
| #7 Besoeker - I enjoyed your fan fiction (but Lorton Prison is an art colony now.) |
| Posted by: mossomo 2023-01-12 12:45 |
| #6 No one had consumed enough Lions Mane to consider walking out? Baaa... |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2023-01-12 12:28 |
| #5 /\ But in the end, everyone is freight. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2023-01-12 09:09 |
| #4 Amtrak doesn't own the rails, they lease the use of them. Amtrak does not have priority. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2023-01-12 07:57 |
| #3 Yes, "specialized" hostages is correct. Armed MAGA guards were picked up at the prison in Lorton, VA. along with a re-supply of dog food. The anxious D.C. passengers were scheduled to be met by slaver cattle trucks near Denmark, but the cattle trucks were likewise delayed. With the extended shipment delays and all attempts to avoid discovery foiled, AMTRAK and slaver authorities made a joint decision to proceed to Sanford and abandon the effort. Numerous filings are now underway with the The Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Cash settlements are expected to be in the billions of dollars. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2023-01-12 07:22 |
| #2 Does Presnit Choo Choo know? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2023-01-12 07:05 |
| #1 ...This happened about an hour away from us. Quite frankly disgraceful on the part of Amtrak. Mike |
| Posted by: MikeKozlowski 2023-01-12 07:03 |