Regional Interests

Amtrak Train Stranded Near Eugene Since Sunday Moving Again

Oregon Public Broadcasting | By OPB Staff

Published February 26, 2019 at 7:45 AM PST

<p>An Amtrak station sign is displayed in Detroit Monday, May 9, 2011. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that Michigan has been awarded almost $200 million for high-speed rail projects, including infrastructure upgrades.</p> — An Amtrak station sign is displayed in Detroit Monday, May 9, 2011. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that Michigan has been awarded almost $200 million for high-speed rail projects, including infrastructure upgrades.

UPDATE (Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019, at 8:45 a.m. PT) — An Amtrak Coast Starlight train that had been stranded 40 miles east of Eugene since Sunday started moving again Tuesday morning.

“The train is headed to Eugene. Crews worked all night to clear the track,” said Tim McMahon with Union Pacific.

The 183 passengers onboard the train were stranded after the train hit a tree that had blocked the tracks during a snowstorm.

The train left from Seattle for Los Angeles Sunday morning, before making a scheduled stop in Eugene. The train was headed into the Cascades when it got stuck in Oakridge around 6:20 pm Sunday.

Amtrak made the decision to keep the passengers onboard the train due to unsafe weather conditions. In a statement, Amtrak said it will be contacting customers to provide refunds "and other compensation as appropriate."