A communication breakdown at Washington's Union Station led to a frustrating experience for 110 Amtrak passengers who were left behind when their train departed without them. The incident, which occurred on December 26, involved Amtrak train 66 en route from Roanoke, Virginia, to New York City.

Amtrak acknowledged the error, issuing an apology and stating that the train mistakenly departed before all passengers had boarded. The company provided affected passengers with accommodations on the next available train, along with food, beverages, hotel rooms, and full refunds.

The situation unfolded when passengers, following a boarding notification, lined up at the designated gate around 9:40 p.m. for the scheduled 10 p.m. departure. However, the gate never opened, leaving passengers stranded and confused. According to a Reddit user who was among those left behind, the gate remained roped off with a sign, and no Amtrak personnel were present to assist or provide information.

The stranded passengers, unsure of what to do, remained in line, assuming the train was further delayed. The situation became clear only when they received notification that the train had departed. The Reddit user described the scene as chaotic and confusing, with passengers hesitant to leave the line for fear of missing the boarding process altogether. Station police were reportedly present but equally perplexed by the situation.

The incident sparked outrage and disbelief on social media, with many questioning how such an oversight could occur at a major transportation hub. Some criticized Amtrak's boarding procedures, comparing them unfavorably to the more streamlined processes used by European rail systems. Others called for accountability and changes to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Amtrak has not yet commented on whether it will revise its boarding procedures at Union Station following this incident.