‘Frustrating experience’: Amtrak passengers stranded on train over 15 hours after Helene left path of destruction

JASPER COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC/Gray News) - Passengers in South Carolina were stuck on an Amtrak train for over 15 hours after Hurricane Helene left a path of destruction.

Amtrak train #98 was stuck in Ridgeland, S.C. on the tracks.

The train’s route begins in Miami, FL and ends in New York, NY, along with many other stops.

One passenger, Brandi Phillips told WSCS that she got on the train at a station in Savannah, GA around 10 p.m. on Thursday.

However, an hour later, the train stopped.

“We were told we had to stop because there was a tree that was in the train tracks and we couldn’t move. They (Amtrak) had sent us a mass text saying that crew members would be here in 60 minutes to get everything cleared away, and we would be back and rolling,” Phillips said. “60 minutes turned into 15 hours.”

Over the 15-hour delay, passengers were only offered a complimentary beef stew and a bottle of water, WCSC reported.

If they wanted more, snacks and beverages were available for purchase.

“There’s elderly people on here; there’s children, and this train is like 50 degrees. It is freezing cold,” she added.

The only way passengers were allowed off was if they had a ride coming to pick them up.

Hours later, the passengers were finally allowed off the train as buses were organized to take the riders to their designated locations.

“We’ve been trying to keep our composure. I can tell you that a lot of us have done a very good job, but again, this was just unnecessary,” Phillips said. “I feel like there have been other steps that they should have taken in order to get us and accommodate us a little bit better.”

Amtrak was contacted for a statement or details on the situation but has yet to respond.

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