(The following article by Nick Wilson was posted on the San Luis Obispo Tribune website on February 3.)
ATASCADERO, Calif. — An Amtrak derailment Friday night was expected to delay more than 220 passengers for at least 31?2 hours, a company spokesman said.
The Amtrak Coast Starlight heading north to Seattle was moving to a siding just after 6 p.m. to allow southbound Amtrak train No. 11 to pass, said Cliff Cole, an Amtrak spokesman.
That’s when the northbound train had a mechanical problem and derailed, Cole said.
None of the 134 passengers on the Coast Starlight or the 95 passengers on train No. 11 were hurt, Cole said.
The Coast Starlight went off the tracks near the intersection of El Camino Real and Walnut Avenue in the Garden Farms area.
It blocked No. 11 from continuing its southbound journey.
The passengers in both trains were expected to be delayed while Amtrak waited for replacement equipment late Friday.
Passengers were given complimentary food and drink. Heating and restroom facilities continued to operate normally, Cole said.
No other trains were expected to be delayed, Cole said.