New London — A broken brake part led to a southbound Amtrak train blocking the lower State Street crossing Thursday night.

A post on AmtrakNortheast's Twitter account announced that Train 177, from Boston to Washington, D.C., was stopped in New London because of "mechanical issues." City police said a brake part had broken down in the train's engine.

Amtrak's train-tracking map showed that train was running an hour and a half behind schedule.

"We apologize for this delay," the Amtrak Northeast Twitter post said.

An Amtrak customer, who declined to give his name, was waiting for an incoming northbound train and stood behind Union Station, wondering how he was going to get to the platform beyond the stopped train. He said he was told he might have to walk down to the Cross Sound Ferry terminal to get around it.

Aboard the train, Twitter user Marwa Morgan posted, "Dear @Amtrak, I am Muslim-observing #Eid - and I just wanted to say thanks for ruining my holiday. I was held in a dark, hot train in CT for a whole hour and a half. Great job retaining customers." She did not respond to requests for further comment.

A later post on the Amtrak Northeast Twitter page said Train 177 was being towed to New Haven, where it would be connected to a different engine. The company said by phone that a state Department of Transportation train assisted with the towing, and Train 177 was pulling in to New Haven about 9:40 p.m.

The breakdown caused delays for a second southbound train, 179, which was running nearly 40 minutes behind schedule, Amtrak Northeast later announced on Twitter.