BATTLE CREEK, Mich. - Passengers were trapped on an Amtrak train for hours after the train broke down due to mechanical issues near Battle Creek Friday night.
In a statement, Amtrak confirmed the train encountered a mechanical issue near the Battle Creek station around 7:15 p.m. After troubleshooting and not resolving the issue, the company said substitute buses were secured and arrived around 11:45 p.m. to take customers to their destinations.
Diandria Bell of Westland had traveled to Chicago for the Tigers game against the Chicago White Sox earlier in the week. She was taking the Amtrak train from Chicago to the Dearborn station when it broke down.
She said the train's departure from Chicago had been briefly delayed due to mechanical problems, but shortly after passing Battle Creek, it shut down completely. She said passengers were trapped on the train for more than four hours with no electricity, no working restrooms, and no air conditioning while Amtrak worked to fix the problem.
She said when the company finally sent charter buses to their location, passengers had to get off the train and walk around half a mile to board the buses.
She believes all passengers on board deserve a full refund.
"Most people aren't going to want to take Amtrak again," Bell said. "If they offer vouchers - will a person use it considering the experience that they had? In my opinion I think everyone should get a refund for the grueling experience that we went through."
Bell said she hasn't received any more communications from Amtrak since the incident happened.