'Ride from hell': Amtrak passengers stuck on train for more than 12 hours

DETROIT (WJBK) - "It was a train ride from hell."

Passengers aboard Amtrak's Wolverine 354 were stuck on the train for hours upon hours on New Year's Eve into New Year's Day. The train was two hours late leaving Chicago -- and it was all downhill from there.

The train was supposed to leave Chicago about 8 p.m. and get into Detroit just after midnight -- but didn't pull into the Detroit station until 1 p.m. Monday.

Passengers first realized something was wrong when the train stopped in the middle of nowhere.

"Kalamazoo, we were in that funky town for 5 hours. Nothing against Kalamazoo," said passenger Josh Lamere. The train stopped again for hours in Battle Creek, and then again in Albion.

Amtrak told the passengers and FOX 2 that they needed to switch out crews because they were maxed out on hours.

"It was like non-stop, and every time they stopped they just stopped for hours," says Michael Love. "They did switch crews. A lady was with us for an hour and a half and she said she was out of time, so she was getting ready to go. We had to sit and wait for another crew."

Some of the cars got very cold while they were just sitting on the tracks. Some FOX 2 viewers snapped pictures of some of the cars with snow and ice built up inside.

Another problem that crept up -- no one had eaten a real meal in hours. Crews did try to accommodate the passengers by bringing in some sausage biscuits from McDonald's.

Travelers finally arriving in Detroit told FOX 2 they'll think twice about taking the train next time.

No word on if Amtrak will compensate the passengers, beyond those McDonald's breakfast sandwiches.