Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari confirmed debris fell on the tracks and caused an as-yet unknown mechanical malfunction on Amtrak train No. 647, a train that travels the Keystone Corridor from Philadelphia to Harrisburg. It wasn't immediately clear what the debris was.
After the incident, Magliari said, the 112 passengers aboard the train were transported to another train and proceeded to Lancaster.
Passenger Lisa Evans of Lancaster said she boarded the train in Philadelphia at 4:35 p.m., but less than an hour later it made an emergency stop at Amtrak’s Coatesville station.
“I didn’t know what it was, but I felt it,” Evans said. “I looked out of the window and saw bits of wood flying and sparks from the train’s wheels. The other passengers didn’t know what was going on until I told them.”
Passengers on the broken-down train were transferred to another Amtrak train about 6:50 p.m. and arrived at Lancaster’s McGovern Avenue station at approximately 7:53 p.m., two hours after its scheduled arrival. The train then departed for Harrisburg.
Evans, who travels to Philadelphia every day for work, said passengers were patient despite the delay. She had taken an earlier-departing train than usual to try to beat the Friday rush.
“Most of the passengers took it pretty well in stride,” she said. “They had conversations with people they didn't know and laughed.”
Evans said she was surprised all the passengers on the seven-car train fit inside the second train, which had only three cars.
“We barely fit everybody on,” Evans said. “We were squeezed in like sardines. It was standing-room-only. Everybody was in the aisles.”
Magliari said the incident was dealt with swiftly.
“These things unfortunately do happen,” he said. “When they do, we try to find the best way to get passengers on their way.”
Talkback on LancasterOnline
Welcome to the new TalkBack on LancasterOnline. Please use the comment box below to share your opinion on this
article. If you would prefer to use the previous TalkBack forums instead, please use this link.
