Amtrak Train that was Stuck in South Carolina/Over 30 Hour Journey – Photos from Passenger Onboard

Hundreds of passengers on an Amtrak train traveling from the Washington, D.C., area to Florida were stuck on board in rural South Carolina for nearly a full day due to a CSX freight train derailment Monday night. The Amtrak Auto Train departed Lorton, Va., at 5 p.m. Monday with hundreds of passengers and their vehicles on board and was scheduled to arrive in Sanford, Fla., by 10 a.m. Tuesday, a 17-hour journey. Instead, they arrived in Sanford, near Orlando, almost 20 hours later on Wednesday morning. Photos shared by Dale Kalkofen show frustrated passengers stuck on the train. Passengers were provided meals, snack packs and beverages until the food ran out, according to Amtrak, but pizza was delivered while the train was in Georgia overnight. The train had to be rerouted off its normal track after a CSX freight train struck an unoccupied vehicle on the tracks and derailed in Lake City, S.C. The derailment caused the closure of multiple railroad crossings and a water outage, according to city officials. The city said no injuries were reported and the derailment was under investigation. The city announced Wednesday that all impacted crossings were reopened Tuesday after inspections. “CSX crews worked around the clock to restore rail service through the town and reopen the crossings,” the city said in a statement. “Restoration included removing the 25 derailed cars from the area, and the removal and replacement of damaged track.” A boil water advisory remained active for some areas Wednesday while maintenance and clean-up continued. “While the city administration offices have a new view across the track, the city is grateful for the response and dedication of all involved in helping restore this main artery of Lake City,” said City Administrator William A. Hall.