CHICAGO -- More than 500 Amtrak passengers who spent the night onboard three trains stranded in snow in northern Illinois are finally heading to Chicago.

Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari says Tuesday that buses are transporting about 300 passengers from two trains near Mendota, about 80 miles from Chicago.

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A third train loaded with 217 people spent the night at a rail yard in Galesburg, about 150 miles from Chicago. Magliari says Amtrak is still deciding whether to let the train travel along a different route or whether passengers should be placed on buses as well.

The trains that got stuck in blowing and drifting snow were heading to Chicago from Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay area and Quincy, Ill.

Passengers spent the night sleeping and eating. Emergency crews were on standby.