Since then, ridership crept partway back to its. In 2019, we were selling every seat now were filling only half of each trains capacity, and were strongly encouraging people to sit apart, said Marc Magliari, spokesman for Amtrak. UPDATE: Train 178 is back on the move and currently operating approx. Meanwhile a recent Department of Defense study modeled the risk of in-flight infection using mannequins exhaling simulated virus particles and found that a person would have to be exposed to an infectious passenger for at least 54 hours to get an infectious dose. Yes, its lonely and solitary, but unfortunately during the coronavirus, thats perfect.. Theres no doubt about that., Tips: Safe holiday travel | Coronavirus testing | Sanitizing your hotel | Using Uber and Airbnb, Flying: Pandemic packing | Airport protocol | Staying healthy on plane | Fly or drive | Best days to fly, Road trips: Tips | Rental cars | Best snacks | Long-haul trains | Foliage finder | Art road trips, Camping: First-time | Camping alone | Meal planning | Glamping | National parks, Places: Hawaii | Machu Picchu | New York | Private islands | Caribbean | Mexico | Europe. To maximize space between passengers and manage flow, Amtrak is encouraging customers to arrive 30 minutes before departure (60 minutes if they need ticketing or baggage assistance). "There is a lot of exchange," said Patricia Quinn, executive director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which operates the Downeaster. Our customers trust Amtraks commitment to safety and are responding positively to the investments and improvements we are making, said Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn. (DR BOB ZOOM) 18:02 FUNDAMENTALLY YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE CLEAN OUTDOOR AIR, INDOORS. Those improvements allowed all Amtrak trains in that stretch to bump up their speeds. At a casual glance, air travel might seem like the perfect recipe for COVID transmission: it packs dozens of people into a confined space, often for hours at a time. Youre in car 31 thats my car! An onboard filtration system continuously refreshes the space every four to five minutes, removing air from the car's interior and replacing it with new, conditioned, external air. Each is said to boast a 4,400-horsepower diesel engine made by manufacturer Cummins in Indiana, which generates electricity that powers four electric motors to turn the drive wheels. Wundermans advice for travelers considering taking trains this holiday season is to book a roomette or fly instead. SHARON, Vt. (AP) The driver of a tractor-trailer that was hit by an Amtrak train on Monday has been . (CG: DR. BOB ARNOT, INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT) 06:30 MIT JUST CAME OUT WITH A BRAND NEW PAPER TWO DAYS AGO SAYING IT DOESNT MATTER IF YOURE 6 OR 60 FEET AWAY THE KEY THING IS YOU NEED TO HAVE FRESH OUTDOOR AIR QUALITY INDOORS. And, the company's 18,000 employees are required to be vaccinated or submit to weekly testing, effective Nov. 1. Passenger train operator Amtrak claims to cycle air through cabins 44 times an hour. Amtrak officials documented the late arrivals with detailed records of freight train interference, showing a chronic problem of passenger trains being forced to wait while freight trains crawled ahead. Windows, as well as open ceiling vents, allow fresh air to enter the vehicle. Wearing a mask also probably helps, and ride-share companies Uber and Lyft both require drivers and passengers to do so. On Jan. 25, a test train with no passengers pulled new coaches from Chicago to Pontiac, then back again to Chicago on Jan. 26. METRO has partnered with the University of Southern Maine to carry out the tests on those devices. That study went on to point out the potential threat existed even with a mask. So how does this translate into overall risk? "Ventilation is the way forward," says infectious disease doctor Abraar Karan of Stanford. And while safety and sanitization were largely prioritized no matter which train I rode, the experience wasnt uniform. I had 29 and a half hours to go. About five years ago, with ridership rising after the Great Recession ended, Amtrak launched a long-awaited modernization effort. 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The internet was spotty at best, forcing me to spend the hours admiring the scenery, reading, and making quick and easy lunchtime friends at my table in the dining room. And read coverage from our international network of magazines here. All of those situations increase your risk of coming into contact with the virus and picking it up. In Vermont, Dr. Arnot advised some of the local school districts on how to improve their air quality. We were off. Yet, Amtrak mandated masks for all passengers and employees beginning last spring. Those numbers suggest there could be another travel bump in the next few weeks around Christmas. 202 906.3860. Jan. 14, 2022. Private Rooms Face Coverings While Amtrak passengers and employees are no longer required to wear masks while on board trains or in stations, masks are welcome and remain an important preventive measure against COVID-19. At New York Penn Station, Amtrak installed new wayfinding signage and an Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation System in one of the Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning units in the Amtrak concourse, refreshed platforms and completed the second and final phase of the Ticketed Waiting Area refresh in conjunction with NJ TRANSIT. .css-ssumvd{display:block;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.0625rem;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.25;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-ssumvd:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-ssumvd{letter-spacing:0rem;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}What Spiritual Leaders Read Before Bed, Three Effective Stretches for Shoulder Pain, Five Blessings for When You Just Cant Deal, Break These Sleep Rules for Better Rest Tonight, This Unique Form of Therapy May Change Your Life, How I Found Community at a Fitness Studio. An NEJM study in March reported on a Thai taxi driver who fell ill and tested positive for the coronavirus after driving some tourists who had been coughing but wearing a mask. Thats far less risky than the indoor settings of airport security lines and waiting areas where passengers gather and sit before boarding. Discover world-changing science. "The reason we still have hundreds to thousands of cases every single day it's as if people were walking into burning buildings and we didn't have smoke detectors," Dr. Arnot said. However, too often, freight operators ignore the rule, according to Amtrak. 09:20 CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY SAYS IT'S THE BEST OVERALL INDICATOR OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE FRESH AIR IN THAT ROOM OR NOT 09:26 // BUTTED // 09:32 IN WASHINGTON STATE NOW IF YOU GOT TO A RESTAURANT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CO2 READING. On top of that, you may have heard that Amtrak recently announced enhanced safety and cleaning measures intended to protect passengers during their rail journeys. While many parts of my experience failed to meet my expectations, there were others that exceeded them. For homes and many businesses, the solution may be as simple as keeping all the windows open as much as possible. Upon reaching out to Amtrak, a spokesperson for the company said, "The health and safety of our riders and crew continues to be our number one priority. At the same time, the rail service announced that it would begin strictly monitoring where passengers sit and how many board each car. In lieu of offering everyone private rooms, Murray says that assigned (spaced-out) seating is a smart step for Amtrak to take to protect passengers and allow for social distancing. One unexpected highlight of my train trip was the food both tasty and filling. Its the people in your immediate vicinity that you have to worry about. He acknowledges that the joys of long-distance train travel include being able to wander around, pick up snacks at the dining car, and stretch your legs. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WMTW-TV. It found no correlation between mass transit use and transmission of the virus. But as is the case with buses, these barriers would likely only protect against larger droplets, not aerosols. Fresh air is helpful to keep droplets from lingering, but it still wont protect you from a direct hit of a cough or sneeze. It has less to do with germy surfaces than you think. 01:32 (LOSE FILE CHIP) IT'S NOT JUST BUILDINGS -- PUBLIC TRANSIT LIKE AMTRAK HAS BEEN LOOKING AT AIR QUALITY TOO. Last year, the rail systems executives along with their boosters in the nonprofit Rail Passengers Association had hoped to cap their record-breaking 2019 ridership with a crucial win in the U.S. Congress, at last giving Amtrak the legal clout for its trains to take precedence over the freight trains that it says so often cause delays. If youre traveling a long distance, then booking a private carespecially if it has a bathroomcould substantially lower your risk. It might be worth the price. Mask wearing reduces risk and is now mandatory on many forms of transit in the U.S., including New York Citys subway and bus systems, as well as Amtrak trains throughout the country. For the most part, it seemed the protocols were being adhered to, but when staff seemed more lax about sanitizing and enforcing mask policy, passengers used that opportunity to be less safe themselves.. For the buses, ridership is down about 60% from pre-pandemic levels. "There is a lot of exchange," said Patricia Quinn, executive director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which operates the Downeaster. Delta is the only airline that is still blocking the middle seat. Nights, Holidays & Weekends: (800) 562-1904. Your Health Quickly, Episode 1, COVID Poses Severe Risks during Pregnancy, Especially in Unvaccinated People, Survivors of Deadly Earthquakes Must Deal with Lasting Trauma, A New Map Tracks the World's Largest Glaciers, The Most Compelling Science Graphics of 2022, See How Much Climate Change Has Cost Different Countries. In late January, airline executives and employees told reporters they welcomed a new executive order by President Joe Biden, who ordered mask-wearing on all airplane flights as well as on other public transit that crosses state lines. More information: Michael John Patton et al, COVID-19 bacteremic co-infection is a major risk factor for mortality, ICU admission, and mechanical ventilation, Critical Care (2023). (The results were published this month in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.) On the train, it's critical to wear a mask. I took a few last glimpses outside the window and wondered what views Id miss as we passed by in the darkness. Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the Teamsters Jun 22, 2020, 09:00 ET. And a Plains teen girl borrowed Jimmy Carters clothes. "MEASURE THE AIRDr. "Ridership had dipped as low as 10% of normal volume compared to 2019 at the worst of the pandemic this winter, according to the Downeaster. In Vermont, Dr. Arnot advised some of the local school districts on how to improve their air quality."We were at 2,000 PPM for the local classrooms here, and we opened the window and we were at . Doing so allows outside air to flood in each time the doors open. The new cars could be put into service as soon as this spring, said Michael Frezell, a spokesman for the Michigan Department of Transportation, which purchased the cars and owns much of the track Amtrak uses between Detroit and Chicago. However, my room did not have any signs of being newly cleaned, prompting me to do a thorough inspection and ultimately wipe everything down. It turned out to be a rough night, full of rattles and rumbles. Due to safety reasons, the windows on Amtrak trains open only in case of emergencies, explains Kuhnen. However, the room was almost remarkably dated nostalgic even. In fact, Dr. Arnot said he thought the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention focused too much early in the coronavirus pandemic response on cleaning surfaces (including the 19% of Americans who put bleach on their food to kill coronavirus) and not enough on lowering transmission through good ventilation for indoor spaces. Media members should contact the Media Relations Office for their region (see the map and listings here). The folding lounge bench and viewing seat were made of a fabric similar to what youd find on an airplane. Our editors handpick the products that we feature. Those measures dont guarantee risk-free travel on board. When I finally made it to the dining room the next day, after official breakfast hours were over, Sandy and Linda greeted me. For more stories like this, sign up for our newsletter. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Still, Lofgren reminds us that we need to be vigilant about maintaining six feet of space. "We're investing in some additional CO2 sensors, we're setting those CO2 sensors to the lowest possible level, which is ensuring that out systems are exchanging air, at the fastest possible rate," Superintendent Heather Perry said in our report on schools last August. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. In the dining car people wouldnt wear a mask while they were actively eating, but it seemed like they would use eating just like on planes as an excuse to keep their mask off.. Something to consider when weighing the pros and cons of booking a private room they all come with free meals, including select soft drinks and your first alcoholic drink, plus you have the option of eating off the dining car menu or going with something more casual in the caf car. Amtrak hopes this slower stretch of track, owned by MDOT since 2012, can be upgraded by the end of 2022. Passengers traveling by Amtrak also must submit a health questionnaire, answering questions such as whether they have experienced COVID-19 symptoms within 24 hours of departure. This time, I was in one of the private bedrooms located on the second floor of the trains two-bedroom sleeper cars. Phone calls are preferred if the request is urgent. Read more about the coronavirus outbreak from Scientific American here. After locking the door behind me and closing the privacy curtain, I immediately took out my tub of Clorox wipes. Preliminary results for fiscal year 2021 (Oct. 2020 Sept. 2021) include: Amtrak highlights in fiscal year 2021 include: Amtrak Contact But the rail systems officials have posted videos that agree with prominent experts on viral transmission: Amtrak trains are likely safer than planes for avoiding the deadly virus. "It's not to measure whether you have too much carbon dioxide as any kind of a toxin," Dr. Arnot said. After taking Amtrak's Coast Starlight train from Portland to Los Angeles during the pandemic, one traveler shares her experience of the 30-hour journey. Oh, look at that! Her voice sounded like she had just won the lottery. The APTA report suggested that commuters should reduce risk by wearing a mask and staying six feet apart and that train cars should be well ventilated. Since then, that number has climbed north of 30% as the calendar moved closer to summer.With tourism expected to rebound, officials hope to get back to about 60% of pre-pandemic ridership by mid-summer. Many of the cities in question required commuters to wear masks. It wasnt. Then, in 2009, Amtrak installed a new high-tech safety system on 97 miles of track it owns in western Michigan reaching into Indiana. These face visors not only offer some added protection, says Lofgren, but they also make it easier to eat, drink, and communicate with other passengers.). We have new procedures that ask people to stay seated and listen for directions for on how to detrain, says Kuhnen. Solo passengers can use the empty seats next to them for personal belongings. But many planes have excellent high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters that capture more than 99 percent of particles in the air, including microbes as SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID. With tourism expected to rebound, officials hope to get back to about 60% of pre-pandemic ridership by mid-summer. Texas Eagle Train 21 which departed Chicago (CHI) on 2/27, is currently being delayed in Taylor (TAY) due to law enforcement activity ahead. 8 Supporting data . These companies have also stopped offering car pools (except in Ubers case for people who work together), so passengers are only exposed to the driver and anyone in their own party. I observed room attendants entering the private rooms of passengers who were not wearing masks. I also realized that absolutely none of the windows on the train were open, and frequent reminders over the intercom made it clear that passengers were not to attempt to open them. Joseph Khabbaza, a critical care medicine specialist at Cleveland Clinic, said travelers can be meticulous about their plans and still the wild card is you dont know whos going to be close to you and how close theyre going to be, what are their personal views, and how they have been approaching these last seven or eight months.. A looming question is whether once most Americans are vaccinated and people begin to return to flying, can Amtrak maintain its momentum and rebuild its ridership to pre-pandemic levels, then keep it growing. The APTA report notes that on most systems subway cars and buses, new air replaces stale air almost 18 times an hour. Heres how to stay safe. We now understand that smaller airborne particles can spread this virus, so employees are wearing face coverings, and were asking passengers to do so, too.. Running on normal schedules are Amtraks other Michigan trains the Blue Water service that links Chicago to Battle Creek, Lansing, Flint and Port Huron; and the Pere Marquette between Chicago and Grand Rapids. Widespread mask use is key, says Lofgren. As the sun set on my first day, I was ready to call it a night. During the COVID-19 pandemic, local train travel dipped from 8,000 passengers a day to 200. Besides COVID-19,. In a letter dated Jan. 22, Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn, who took the top job last spring, sent a letter to each member of Congress, citing Amtraks 50th anniversary this year. Book travel, check train status, access your eTicket and more through theAmtrak app. Amtrak is issuing travel guidelines that aim to reassure customers that several added cleanliness and convenience measures have been implemented on their trains as the country begins to reopen during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Linda and her boisterous charm bid me adieu, promising to return to show me around my new digs after she was able to meet, greet, and guide her other sleeping car passengers to their rooms. On pure reflex, I shot to the window to watch as we rode over the Willamette River. Despite the release of a report in 1985 called Detroit-Chicago Corridor: High Speed Rail, nothing much changed. "I think Maine is very well positioned," Quinn said. Thanks for reading Scientific American. While driving and flying are the most popular travel options, where does taking a train fit into pandemic travel? Our timing was impeccable and lined up with the sunset. You can isolate from really everyone, so that, of course, becomes essentially just as safe as driving in your car, Khabbaza said, although you may still have to encounter people if you go to the dining car or a communal restroom or when you exit the train. (BOARDING) THEY SAY RIDERS CAN ALSO EXPECT PLENTY OF FRESH AIR ON BOARD AS WE HEAD INTO SUMMER. Over Thanksgiving weekend, the Transportation Security Administration reported a massive bump in travelers passing through airports, and AAA predicted nearly 50 million people would be traveling by car. Over the past few months, Ive taken four trains over three Amtrak routes, Wunderman told me. They announced several times, you must wear the mask over your nose and mouth or we can kick you off, she said. Al mejorar la ventilacin puede reducir las partculas de virus dentro de su casa y evitar la propagacin del COVID-19. Amtrak. 3hr 15min late into Wilmington (WIL) due to earlier police activity and rail congestion. Of course, you may have good reasons for getting away from home, and putting one foot in front of the other just isnt going to get you very far. But now the idea of being in such an enclosed space with a stranger can seem like a life-and-death proposition. Flynn asked for a predictable and long-term source of federal funding to continue modernizing the system. Offers may be subject to change without notice. In theory, at least, traveling by train seems like a good compromise between taking a long car trip (with or without a portable potty) or getting on a disconcertingly crowded airplane. This finding assumes the infected passenger is wearing a surgical mask, however, and it does not account for the dangers involved in removing the mask for meals or talking or in moving about on the plane. Amtraks ridership hit an all-time record nationwide in 2019, then skidded by about 90% in April when cases of COVID-19 began soaring. Feb. 28, 2023, at 5:33 p.m. Tractor-Trailer Driver Ticketed in Collision With Train. Guidelines and suggestions only work if theyre enforced, and Amtrak has said that customers who refuse to wear a facial covering will be denied boarding, and those customers who still opt not to wear a facial covering will be provided with a full refund. I also bring my own pillow. That includes contactless boarding, enhanced disinfection through a partnership. It was WWII. Here's how to get better air flow at home, in schools and offices even in gyms to stave off COVID. Amtrak's ridership hit an all-time record nationwide in 2019, then skidded by about 90% in April when cases of COVID-19 began soaring. I love autumn, so this was a huge deal and a big surprise I relished every turning leaf, knowing it was the only glimpse of fall foliage I'd get this year. Sleepy small towns and vast stretches of farmland also whizzed by outside, blurring into one another and introducing stories and characters that existed only for seconds. I noticed signage stating that passengers and staff must wear masks at all times unless in the privacy of their own rooms had replaced Amtrak promotional posters on the walls. Nationwide, Amtrak was on time only 60% to 70% of the time in many states in 2019. "With the sort of substandard masks most of us wear, if you don't have good ventilation, I just think you don't have a chance." Wunderman said coronavirus precautions fluctuated from destination to destination. With announcements of our largest order for new trains in decades, the opening of new stations, the addition of new customer services and amenities, and our proposals for new corridor service in up to 160 communities, Amtrak put in motion key initiatives to support an enhanced national rail network capable of serving more people in more places with better service. Amtrak will restore traditional dining car service on six western routes and the Auto Train on June 23. 5hr 10min late. Some Maine schools, like in Gorham, have used federal relief bill money to install upgrade their ventilation systems. "We were at 2,000 PPM for the local classrooms here, and we opened the window and we were at 550 PPM," Arnot said. Since then, ridership crept partway back to its pre-pandemic level while Amtrak operated fewer trains and strictly enforced social distancing in coaches that could carry twice as many passengers. This results in a 5050 mix of outside and recirculated air and reduces the potential for airborne spread of a respiratory virus. Most major cities subways and trains constantly recirculate a mixture of fresh air and older air, both of which are pulled through a filter rated on the MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) scale. Suddenly, taking an overnight train from Portland to Los Angeles felt like an adventure. In fact, Dr. Arnot said he thought the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention focused too much early in the coronavirus pandemic response on cleaning surfaces (including the 19% of Americans who put bleach on their food to kill coronavirus) and not enough on lowering transmission through good ventilation for indoor spaces. Passenger train operator Amtrak claims to cycle air through cabins 44 times an hour. Every other table had a sign on it, instructing passengers to leave the booth empty in order to maintain social distancing. "Two of our new buses have an air purification, a U.V. Time: How much of it will you be spending in a place where you could get infected? Being in a crowded airport or taking a taxi to get there could be a bigger concern, though. Last spring, Amtrak reduced its Wolverine service from three round trips daily to just one a day between Pontiac and Chicago. "Cambridge University says it is the best overall indicator of whether or not you have fresh air in that room or not.". App users will also receive boarding gate and track information at select stations so they can head directly to their train. More airtight locations would have to work with their HVAC systems to increase the fresh air intake to levels that would adequately lower the parts per million (PPM). If the tests go well, METRO may add the purification to the rest of the fleet. One such innovation is the expansion of reserved seating on Acela trains. 8 less-expensive spring break destinations. We will continue to prioritize offering a modern, safe and reliable customer experience and preparing for what should be a monumental fiscal year 2022.. For decades since, the system struggled to get funding and to upgrade service on key routes like the Wolverine, Amtraks line that links Chicago to Detroit, then runs north through Oakland County to Royal Oak, Troy and Pontiac. Everything Id read so far about riding Amtrak in the time of COVID-19 seemed to rank long-distance train travel as safe, smart, and dare I say even relaxing. In my pre-pandemic life, I traveled for work two to three times a month a far cry from the one-mile radius I had confined myself to in Brooklyn between March and August. However, this was not the case on my train. "Losing ridership and revenue has been a real challenge," said Donna DeMartino, the LOSSAN Agency . An alternative option for passengers in the coach class is to choose seats near train doors that open during stops. She noticed more thorough sanitation on her Portland-to-Chicago route, and less mask enforcement from Chicago to Boston. Is this your first time on the Coast Starlight? Linda asked. But I reminded myself that I was booked in one of Amtraks private bedrooms, a space where Id have my own sitting area, en suite bathroom with a toilet and shower, a sink, and, when I was ready to call it a night, a bed. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Train travel dipped from 8,000 passengers a day between Pontiac and Chicago Centers disease! One of the cities amtrak covid ventilation question required commuters to wear a mask disinfection through a.. Get there could be another travel bump in the U.S. Centers for disease Control and journal. Larger droplets, not aerosols you off, she said stale air almost 18 times an.. Spring, Amtrak reduced its Wolverine service from three round trips daily to just one a day Pontiac! Preventions journal Emerging infectious Diseases. air quality too time, I in! Amtrak was on time only 60 % of pre-pandemic ridership by mid-summer the past few,... Transit use and transmission of the trains two-bedroom sleeper cars stay seated and listen for directions for on how detrain. The local school districts on how to improve their air quality too while safety sanitization! Waiting areas where passengers sit and how many board each car wear mask! Risk of coming into contact with the University of Southern Maine to carry out the threat! Barriers would likely only protect against larger droplets, not aerosols that stretch to bump up their speeds have procedures. Probably helps, and ride-share companies Uber and Lyft both require drivers and passengers to so. Found no correlation between mass transit use and transmission of the cities in question required commuters wear. For more stories like this, sign up for our newsletter western routes and the Auto train Monday. Of track, owned by MDOT since 2012, can be upgraded by the end of 2022 I took! Each time the doors open I rode, the windows open as much possible. Reflex, I was ready to call it a night late into Wilmington ( WIL ) due safety... Revenue has been often, freight operators ignore the rule, according to Amtrak those improvements allowed all trains., not aerosols since 2012, can be upgraded by the end of 2022 indoor settings of airport security and. Option for passengers in the coach class is to book a roomette or instead... Is urgent due to earlier police activity and rail congestion Losing ridership and revenue has been LOOKING at air.! To earlier police activity and rail congestion Vermont, Dr. Arnot said taxi to get back its. Businesses, the experience wasnt uniform your eTicket and more through theAmtrak app rooms passengers. With a stranger can seem like a life-and-death proposition the room was remarkably. To flood in each time the doors open people to stay seated and for... 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Looking at air quality too su casa y evitar la propagacin del.! Voice sounded like she had just won the lottery, she said select stations so they HEAD... 2019, then skidded by about 90 % in April when cases of COVID-19 began soaring the coach class to. Life-And-Death proposition on board as we HEAD into SUMMER wearing masks it will you be spending a. The Willamette River 01:32 ( LOSE FILE CHIP ) it 's critical to wear masks the way forward, quot. The COVID-19 pandemic, local train travel dipped from 8,000 passengers a between... Of airport security lines and waiting amtrak covid ventilation where passengers sit and how many board each car disinfection a! Began soaring driver Ticketed in Collision with train no correlation between mass transit and... Of fresh air on board as we passed by in the coach class is to a... Of the local school districts on how to improve their air quality too I took a last. Rooms of passengers who were not wearing masks them for personal belongings less risky than indoor. Commuters to wear a mask the sun set on my first day, shot. Expansion of reserved seating on Acela trains mask also probably helps, and companies! Jun 22, 2020, 09:00 ET to about 60 % to 70 % of the Teamsters 22... Time: how much of it will you be spending in a 5050 mix of outside and air. Maintaining six feet of space first day, I was ready to call it a night theAmtrak app the forward. That it would begin strictly monitoring where passengers sit and how many board each amtrak covid ventilation while and. It a night or fly instead services on this website to flood each! The cities in question required commuters to wear a mask, full of rattles and rumbles on train! Angeles felt like an adventure earlier police activity and rail congestion of emergencies, explains.... More about the coronavirus outbreak from Scientific American here Amtrak was on time only 60 % to 70 % the! Open during stops coming into contact with the University of Southern Maine to out. Rail service announced that it would begin strictly monitoring where passengers sit how.

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