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Indiana Freight Train Derailment Snarls Amtrak Traffic

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A freight train derailment in Indiana caused some travel trouble for people headed to Chicago on Tuesday.

Amtrak passengers traveling west from Ohio couldn't get through to Chicago the way they always do, so there were major delays.

CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman spoke with some of the weary travelers, who were very aware why their trips have been running longer.

They certainly don't blame Amtrak for a problem that likely will continue into Wednesday.

One passenger described her day as "long, tiring, boring, stressful."

Another woman said it was "cramped on the bus. It was very cramped."

Early Tuesday morning, a freight train derailed about 40 miles northwest of Fort Wayne, Ind.

Officials said about 18 cars were involved in a pile up. Some of those cars were carrying molten sulfur.

A fire started and could continue burning until midday Wednesday.

It means Amtrak trains from the east can't go west beyond Toledo, Ohio, so train travel becomes bus travel.

The Lake Shore Limited from New York and Boston has since been rerouted through Michigan and passengers on the Capitol Limited from Washington were transferred to buses.

Amtrak has called Chicago passengers leaving Union Station for the East Coast on Wednesday to let them know they will be on coach buses to Toledo. They expect things to go smoothly, because they've had time to plan.

Like Tuesday that will affect about 400 ticket-holders.

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