Help arrives for nearly 200 on Amtrak train stranded in Oregon snow

Feb. 26 (UPI) -- An Amtrak train stuck in the Oregon snow since Sunday got moving again Tuesday after nearly 200 passengers waited for about 36 hours, officials said.

Union Pacific, which owns the rail the Amtrak Coast Starlight uses, said a locomotive began pulling the train from its location in Oakridge, Ore., to Eugene early Tuesday.

The Coast Starlight was traveling from Seattle to Los Angeles when it hit a tree in Oakridge Sunday evening. Amtrak spokeswoman Olivia Irvin said 183 passengers were stranded aboard.

Officials said the passengers would be taken on to Portland once they arrived in Eugene.

Oakridge, about 45 miles southeast of Eugene, was hit with more than 10 inches of snow Monday afternoon, which slowed aid efforts. Union Pacific spokesman Tim McMahan said the company decided to keep passengers on the train because of power outages and lack of hotel space in nearby towns.

Road closures and fallen trees due to the snow made it impossible to transport the passengers by bus, officials said.

Help arrived as conditions on the train were becoming more uncomfortable. Passenger Carly Bigby told KOIN-TV the snack cart was empty and mothers with small children ran out of diapers. She also said there was limited cellular service.

Amtrak said its Cascades service between Portland and Eugene has been suspended until Thursday.