Passengers recall train derailment

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — They had been waiting for their loves ones' safe return after their train derailed in South Carolina earlier in the day.

More than 200 passengers were stranded when the train came off the tracks in Spartanburg just after midnight.

Seven of the nine cars jumped the tracks in Spartanburg and four people were injured.

They are thankful they survived, but still don't know why the train went off the tracks.

Families were reunited at Charlotte's Amtrak station Monday.

There were hugs all around as a few dozen riders stopped in Charlotte.
"Just sick with worry," said Beth Bryant.

Some people had no heat in subfreezing temperatures for 45 minutes.

"What happened? That's what I would like to know," said passenger Earnestine Locke.

Most of the passengers said it was smooth ride until the train went off the tracks.

"At first it was just like, 'boom' and then it was like, 'dum, dum, dum dum dum.''" said Frank Oliver.

He said he was worried the train cars would flip.

"I was holding on for dear life," said Jack Bryant.

Caleb Lapsley said they eventually had heat, food and drinks, but were told to sit and wait without the one thing they wanted most-- answers.

They waited almost nine hours before the buses arrived.

Amtrak emailed Channel 9 a statement saying it and Norfolk Southern, which owns and controls the route, are investigating the derailment.

They wrote they regret any inconvenience.

Spartanburg County Deputy Fire Marshal Tony Barnett told The Associated Press that the derailment of the Amtrak 20 train from New Orleans occurred at 12:10 a.m. Monday about 6 miles south of Spartanburg. He says there's no immediate word on the cause and all seven derailed cars remained upright.

The train was due to reach Charlotte around 1:30 a.m. Monday.