An Amtrak train with at least 183 passengers on board is finally moving again after being stuck for 36 hours in Oakridge, Oregon.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported when the Los Angles-bound train hit a tree that fell onto the tracks Sunday evening, as reported by CNN.
“The train had been inoperable due to weather conditions and downed trees,” Tim McMahan, spokesman for Union Pacific, which owns the Oregon rail line where the train had been stranded, told CNN reporters. “UP crews worked overnight to clear the tracks.”
Before the incident, the National Weather Service predicted at least two feet of snowfall in the area. By Tuesday morning, at least a foot of snow had accumulated. To put that in perspective, Oakridge averages 1.1 inches in February.
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Scot Naparstek said in a statement that the company decided that leaving passengers on the train was the safest option.
“We sincerely regret the extended delay customers on the southbound Coast Starlight experienced due to extreme weather issues while traveling with Amtrak,” he said. “With local power outages and blocked roads, it was decided the safest place for our customers was to remain on the train where we were able to provide food, heat, electricity and toilets.”
Amtrak officials stated that Amtrak Cascades trains between Portland and Eugene would be “suspended through Thursday, due to track closures because of severe weather conditions on the Union Pacific Railroad.”
Trains between Portland and points north are still operating, according to the Amtrak website.
Also, passengers should expect more cancellations and delays as the train heads back North from Los Angeles.
“Customers with reservations on trains that are being modified will typically be accommodated on trains with similar departure times or another day,” a statement reads on the company’s website.” Amtrak will gladly waive additional charges for customers looking to change their reservation during the modified schedule by calling our reservation center.”