An Amtrak train bound for Washington pulled away from Penn Station on Saturday without some pretty important cargo: its passengers.
Scores of travelers were stranded after the Acela Express 2253 took off from one platform about 3 p.m. — while they were waiting at another and unaware the train was leaving them behind.
Several minutes passed before the passengers even got wind of what had happened, one told the Daily News.
“They literally sent us to the wrong platform, and the conductor took off without any passengers,” said Damien Miano, 60, of Chelsea. “The right hand didn’t know what the left hand was doing. It was just so bizarre.”
Miano said he and the other abandoned travelers eventually returned to the main level, where a red-faced Amtrak manager explained what happened and passed out bags of Doritos.
The manager said the conductor left without getting the okay, Miano said.
“He said that in all the years he was working there, something like this has never happened before,” Miano said. “Those were his exact words.”
The passed-over passengers were shepherded into a lounge and plied with pizza. But though their bellies were full, they were still furious, Miano said.
“The woman next to me was going absolutely nuts,” he added.
Several passengers took to Twitter to vent their rage — and bewilderment.
“@Amtrak u didn’t find it strange that no one from NYC got on the Acela to DC?? Left an entire train of people at Penn #mindblown,” wrote @JamieBraaten.
“Thanks @Amtrak, missing a wedding cause Acela 2253 left NYC without boarding any passengers,” wrote @mikeyuBCN.
“So here’s how @Amtrak lost the Acela. They actually went through NYC without bothering to pick up the 200+ passengers who had tickets,” wrote @irasocol.
Most of the passengers were eventually herded onto a local train that left Penn Station about 5:15 p.m., Miano said.
An Amtrak spokeswoman said the company is looking into the incident.
“We’re investigating why the train left the station before all passengers could board,” said Kimberly Woods.
