The unassuming passengers, some even taking video with their smartphones, stood on the platform as the train arrived.
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Passenger Craig Oleszewski captured the incident on his camera.
Oleszewski said it was Amtrak train 236 which was scheduled to arrive at 9:07 a.m.
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In just a matter of seconds, the snow sprayed through the air like a wave and covered the passengers.
Amtrak released the following statement to Action News Thursday:
Amtrak has reviewed the operation of Empire Service Train 236 arriving at the Rhinecliff, N.Y., Station shortly after 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 15. Our investigation has determined the train was traveling at the authorized speed when making the station stop and all rules were followed by the engineer.
Amtrak is grateful no one was injured and Emergency Medical Services units were not called to the station. We always advise customers to stand back from the platform edge as trains approach and this was an unusual occurrence considering the large amount of snow on the tracks.
Passenger and freight locomotives have plows to clear the tracks when snow accumulates. In this instance, a plow train was used to clear the tracks earlier but snow continued to accumulate. During severe weather, it is even more important that customers be careful in stations, on platforms as trains warn of their arrival and departures and as passengers board and disembark.