"Trapped without light": Amtrak train turns into hell due to heat

An Amtrak train ride turned into a nightmare for hundreds of passengers in the northeastern United States, who were stranded for hours without power or air conditioning amid a sweltering heat wave hitting the region.

NEW YORK/BOSTON – Hundreds of Amtrak passengers endured hours of anguish and despair after their train was “stuck without power” amid a brutal heat wave that has pushed temperatures to dangerous levels across the northeast United States.

The incident, which occurred on one of the country's busiest routes, left commuters trapped in cars that quickly became ovens, without air conditioning, lights, or the ability to charge their electronic devices. The situation highlights the vulnerability of the country's critical infrastructure to extreme weather events, which scientists say are becoming more frequent and intense.

A Nightmare on Rails

According to passenger reports shared on social media and reported by media outlets, the train abruptly stopped and lost all power. With outside temperatures exceeding 95°F (35°C), conditions inside the cars rapidly deteriorated, causing panic and discomfort among passengers, including children and the elderly.

The testimonies describe a chaotic scene:

* Suffocating Heat: Without air conditioning, the temperature inside the carriages became unbearable.

* Lack of Information: Passengers complained of a lack of communication from Amtrak staff about the nature of the problem or the estimated time for a resolution.

* Limited Resources: Water and other supplies on board began to run low as the hours passed.

Finally, after a prolonged wait, an operation was organized to transfer the passengers to another train, but not before they endured what many described as "traumatic" experiences.

> "Passengers 'stuck without power' as extreme heat halts Northeast Amtrak train." – Fox News headline.

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Infrastructure Under Pressure

This incident is not an isolated incident, but rather a symptom of a larger problem. The heat wave affecting the Northeast is part of a weather pattern that is testing the resilience of U.S. infrastructure, from power grids to transportation systems.

In other parts of the country, the effects of extreme weather are also evident. In Texas, for example, CenterPoint Energy executives have claimed to have made "unprecedented" preparations for hurricane season, aware that a single weather event can leave millions without power.

The collapse of Amtrak service underscores an uncomfortable truth: as weather becomes more extreme, the nation's aging infrastructure struggles to keep up. For the hundreds of passengers trapped on that train, the climate crisis and the debate over infrastructure investment have ceased to be abstract concepts and have become a suffocating and dangerous reality.