Amtrak passengers bound for New York and Boston endured a nearly 14-hour overnight wait at Chicago’s Union Station when their train was held up by weather-related mechanical problems.

Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari says the 172 passengers were offered food and blankets and allowed to wait in the station and aboard the train. A small number sought and received refunds.

The train was supposed to have left Chicago at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday and travel first to New York and then Boston.

Passengers interviewed by the Chicago Tribune complained of having to sleep on floors and said the waiting area was cold.

Overnight wind chills were around 25 degrees below zero.

Passenger Kathleen Bluemke told the Tribune that her 7-year-old daughter’s hands became swollen and chapped because of the cold.

(AP)