There's a report on TV news that the northbound Coast Starlight ("Starlate") is stuck on Portland's East side. From what I hear, it has been stranded for three hours, with only backup power, and while this is in an urban area, they have not sent buses or any backup transport to get the passengers even to Union Station, about a rail mile away.
The TV folks talked to a woman who had gone over and picked up her friend off the train after waiting at the station and getting fed up with the delay, so it sounds as if some folks are abandoning the train. This during portland's most spectacular snowstorm in years. We have had 7 to 12 inches of snow today and the temperature is in the mid 20's. This won't sound like much to you folks in snow country, but for Portland it is a big deal, as some years we just get an inch of snow (total) and a few freezing days.
Sounds like Amtrak can't find any buses to shuttle the people out, but from where the train is stuck you can walk a few blocks and catch a bus across the river.
Stay warm, wherever you are!
Peter
Here's an article on the situation from the Portland Oregonian:
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/12/amtrak_trains_now_unstuck_and.html
From the article it sounds as if the train was only stalled for about an hour. It was due into Portland at 3:40 pm, so it was on the order of 5 hours late once it got going. I suspect the folks at the station had been waiting longer than that.
The article also notes that the Southbound Coast Starlight was stuck at the station for about 6 hours. But then it was a snowy day. Today we have ice on top of the snow.
CheersPeter
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