An Amtrak trip lasted so long, passengers feared they were being held hostage. The nightmare trip involving over 500 passengers should have lasted only 17 hours...but it stretched to 37.
The train was detoured off its normal route to continue operating, however, due to the delay the crew working the train timed out and became unable to legally operate it. This is a unique train and only a few certified crews are able to operate it. They had to wait for authorized personnel to arrive on the scene and drive the train.
Th train left Virginia at 5 PM Monday and was supposed to reach Florida the next morning, but had to be rerouted. Amtrak said it worked with passengers to provide meals, snacks, and beverages, as well as pet bathroom breaks.
While it was stopped in a wooded area in Denmark, SC, crews told passengers that there were no meals left. They also advised that local police can’t help because it is federal property. There were reportedly pets onboard and they still had not been allowed to get off for a bathroom break.
Some passengers even called the local police, prompting the conductor to console everyone aboard. "For those of you that are calling the police, we are not holding you hostage," the conductor said over loudspeaker.
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