Amtrak Disabled family left at amtrak station 16 or more hours with no food / water. Washington

My disabled family was to travel from Shelby, Montana to Spokane, Washington on May 1 and 2, 2011. They arrived in Shelby at 2:00PM, MDT. They were advised the train would be 4 hours late, which became over 12hrs. late. Original schedule said they would leave Shelby, Montana at 5:22 pm, MDT.

They were left alone in an empty train station for about 16 hours. They paid for sleeping car, and meals. I phoned amtrak in an attempt to get them food, water, and to be woken up so they did not miss their train. I was refused. They were in a small town, (3,000) that had no fast food places, or other all night facilities.

After checking with Amtrak, I was told that they would be put on a bus from Spokane, Washington to Seattle, Washington. A bus of some 8 to 14 hours duration would be intolerable to my special needs children, not to mention to their diabetic mother.

I was told by amtrak if they caused a missed train connection that a hotel would be offered. No such offer was made.