TRENTON, N.J. (AP)  -- Thousands of evening commuters and rail travelers in the Northeast were delayed Wednesday after a power outage snarled train service in the region.


Terry Sheridan Reports

Amtrak and NJ Transit said train service was being restored at about 5:45 p.m., but significant delays were expected after more than an hour without trains running.

Train service from Boston to Philadelphia, including New York City, was affected by a power outage after severe thunderstorms passed through the region around 4:40 p.m., Amtrak said. The outage also extended west to Harrisburg, Pa.

Commuter trains in the region need electricity from overhead wires to run. The cause of the outage was under investigation, Amtrak said.

In New Jersey, the outage affected the busy Northeast Corridor in and out of New York, as well as NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line.

NJ Transit spokesman Dan Stessel said the agency pulled all trains into the nearest station after the alert.

Lauren Gilbert of Washington, D.C., who was stranded near Newark aboard an Amtrak Acela train bound for Washington, said the delay was frustrating.

``We take the train to avoid the airport thunderstorm delays and we can't win. We're stuck,'' Gilbert said.

Passengers were being offered free water and soft drinks as they waited.