Passengers on two Amtrak trains were delayed at the Amtrak terminal in Rocky Mount after a wreck damaged the supports of a bridge in Micro, making the bridge too unstable for trains to cross. Both trains had departed from Union Station in Washington, D.C., one bound for Charlotte, NC and the other for Savannah, Ga.
According to Amtrak, CSX inspected the bridge after the wreck and found it unsuitable for travel. Repairs will not be made until midday Friday.
The trains were stalled at the Rocky Mount terminal late Wednesday night. Charter buses took the passengers to their destinations.
Until the repairs are made, no rail traffic north or southbound can happen south of Rocky Mount. All trains between Florida and Rocky Mount will be cancelled as a result, as well as any trains in northern areas headed south of Rocky Mount. There is no current estimate on the number of trains affected.
Amtrak said anyone who is currently stranded south of Washington, D.C. and north of Rocky Mount would be provided alternate transportation to their destinations. Anyone headed south who is not south of Washington will return to their place of origin. Also, anyone headed north who is not as far north as Rocky Mount will be returned to their place of origin.
According to the Amtrak Web site, there is no updated arrival time for the passengers from Wednesday's stranded trains.
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