Greyhound riders stranded in Chicago since Thursday

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Greyhound passengers stranded at the bus station in Chicago's West Loop since Thursday expressed their anger and frustration Friday. They were cold and upset with the delays.

"We got here at eight o'clock last night. Every hour, we're told, 'Another hour, another hour,'" said Denise Usrey, a Greyhound rider.

Passengers like Usrey said they've been stuck in Chicago since Thursday morning with little access to food, water or accommodations. Many people who spoke with ABC7 Eyewitness News said they just wanted more attention from the bus company.

"It's cold outside. There's kids sleeping on the floor. But you want our money for these tickets. That's very unprofessional. You're a multi-million-dollar company," one stranded passenger said.

"My grandbaby's been out in the cold all night long. That's a shame. They did not accommodate us," another stranded passenger said.

Angelica Thomas was traveling across country with her four children and boyfriend.

"To be here an extra almost ten hours - eight hours - it's frustrating. It's cold in here. I have my kids. They have to sleep on the floor," Thomas said.

Other passengers said their trips were delayed after Greyhound accommodated previously delayed passengers by rebooking them on later buses.

"What about the nine o'clock people? We were before 9:55!" a frustrated rider said.

"No buses, no bus drivers, no heat, no nothing. That's what they just told us," said Mery Vance, another passenger.

Greyhound officials said the storm on the East Coast, the extremely cold weather in Chicago and increased ridership at the end of the holiday season forced the company to cancel or adjust service. They also said customers were given food vouchers and refunds for those who want them.

In a statement, Greyhound Communications Specialist Crystal Booker wrote in part:

"We are working diligently to secure resources from other locations and expect to have customers back on the road by the morning. We are doing our best to accommodate our customers with the resources we have available."

Several buses arrived and left with passengers on board over the course of the morning. As Friday progressed, the crowd at the Chicago station thinned.