11:39 a.m. ET, February 26, 2019
Amtrak says keeping passengers on train was safest option during "unfortunate sequence of events"
From CNN's Keith Allen
Amtrak Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Scot Naparstek said the company regrets that nearly 200 passengers were stranded for more than a day aboard an Amtrak train in Oregon, blaming the issue on extreme weather.
"With more than a foot of heavy snow and numerous trees blocking the track, we made every decision in the best interest of the safety of our customers during the unfortunate sequence of events," Naparstek said.
He continued: "With local power outages and blocked roads, it was decided the safest place for our customers was to remain on the train where we were able to provide food, heat, electricity and toilets."
The train, which left Seattle for Los Angeles on Sunday, is now heading back north toward Eugene, Oregon. One passenger, Emilie Wyrick, told CNN that the plan was to get off at Eugene and figure out what to do from there.
"We will be contacting customers to provide refunds and other compensation as appropriate,” Naparstek added.