Throngs stranded on PATCO train for an hour

A New Jersey-bound PATCO train filled with pre-St. Patrick's Day revelers - many reportedly inebriated - was disabled on the Benjamin Franklin Bridge shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday, stranding passengers for more than an hour.

The riders were picked up by a second train about 7:30, PATCO spokesman Tim Ireland said. The disabled train was still was on the bridge into late evening. The malfunction was being investigated.

"It was the impression of the police I spoke with that there were a number of well-lubricated passengers on the train," Ireland said.

Two passengers who got off the train while it was stopped on the bridge and who began walking along the tracks were arrested by Delaware River Port Authority police, Ireland said. They likely will be charged with trespassing.

Passenger Brett J. Hopkins, 31, of Fishtown, who works at the Flying Monkey Bakery at Reading Terminal and who is a comic-book illustrator, was among those stranded.

"The train just stopped, about half-filled with people wearing green clothing that are visibly intoxicated," Hopkins said. "The regular people that are on the train are taking it really well."

He and others were transferred to the second train, which returned to Philadelphia, where it paused briefly at the station at Eighth and Market Streets before heading back toward Camden.

Many passengers took to social-media networks to vent their frustration while awaiting rescue.

PATCO, one passenger tweeted, "should take a page from airline pilots and update their passengers when they keep them on a train over the river for an hour."

Contact Chris Mondicsat 215-854-5957 or cmondics@phillynews.com.