Via Rail train evacuated after striking debris near Trenton, Ont.

A Via Rail traintravelling between Toronto andOttawa had to be evacuatedafter it struck debris on the tracknear Trenton, Ont., Saturday afternoon.

Via Rail said train number52 was damaged by debrisaround 10:30 a.m. ET, thatcauseda fuel leak and damage to windows.

All 150 passengers were transferred to train 62, which is a part of the same train,and would be transported to their final destination by "alternative transportation" from Belleville, Ont.,the company said.

'Could have been handled better'

However, passengers likeKarina Babeikowere still waiting inside train 62 more than three hours later and she said they were feeling frustrated.

"This whole situation could have been handled better. They could have provided alternative transport, gotten us out of here. Instead we are still at the site and we're not even halfway through our journey," she said via phone Saturday afternoon.

"People want to call taxis and make it to thenearest Greyhound station, but we are not allowed to do so."

Ottawa-bound passenger YiQingL said theyhad just left Cobourg, Ont., when he felt a bump and saw rocks and pieces of metal smash into the windows along the right side of his car.

He said the two trains were left without heating, ventilation or functioning toilets. A few passengers complained of "minor" nausea because of the stale air,Lsaid in an email.

L praised Via Rail staff on board for making the experience bearable, although he did say passengers could have been better informed about what was going on.

"In the past few hours, we have been getting multiple 'We shall move in just a few minutes' [messages],but we are still parked at the original spot now," he wrote at around 3:30 p.m.

One hour later, Babeikoand Lboth told CBC News said the train had startedmoving roughly six hours after the initial impact.

Safety regulations prevented disembarking

In tweets sent to passengers, Via Rail said safety regulations had prevented people from getting off the train anywhere other than at stations or at designated stops.

The company also said it was waiting for CN Rail, which owns the track,to finish assessing the fuel leak.

Via Rail spokespersonKaven Delarosbilsaid part of the reason for the lengthy delay was that there were more repairs needed than originallyanticipated.

Some bathrooms weren't working because workers needed to cut air pressure to perform tests, Delarosbil said.

Via Rail and CN Rail are carrying out a joint investigation, he said.

Via Rail did not say what type of debris the trainstruck.As of 3 p.m. ET, emergency services were still at the scene.

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