It turned out to be a rough night, full of rattles and rumbles. Amtraks ridership hit an all-time record nationwide in 2019, then skidded by about 90% in April when cases of COVID-19 began soaring. Employees are also required to wear masks at all times, unless in their private rooms. According to Amtraks website, it is limiting bookings on reserved trains to allow for more social distancing (family members may still sit next to each other) in addition to carrying out extensive deep cleaning and sanitizing of trains before service. 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. Fresh air is helpful to keep droplets from lingering, but it still won't protect you from a direct hit of a cough or sneeze. The most important thing we can do to keep passengers and employees safe is the use of face coverings, says Amtraks Kuhnen. Detours with locals. Nights, Holidays & Weekends: (800) 562-1904. Though it was a shared space . WATCH LIVE Chicago & Suburban Cook Co. North Suburbs West Suburbs South Suburbs NW Indiana One unexpected highlight of my train trip was the food both tasty and filling. Travel tips you can trust. Amtrak will continue to play an important role in the national transportation network for the next 50 years and beyond by operating a safe, environmentally efficient and fiscally responsible business by providing travelers with an experience that sets a new standard. Amtrak, which serves more than 500 destinations in 46 states and three Canadian provinces, also offers a unique class of service that might especially appeal to travelers in the COVID-19 era: private rooms. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. 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. Even worse, on the popular route from Chicago to Detroit to Pontiac, on-time performance occurred just 33% of the time. 3hr 15min late into Wilmington (WIL) due to earlier police activity and rail congestion. 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. Fresh air is helpful to keep droplets from lingering, but it still wont protect you from a direct hit of a cough or sneeze. 2023 Amtrak Media. Our customers trust Amtraks commitment to safety and are responding positively to the investments and improvements we are making, said Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn. Many of the cities in question required commuters to wear masks. Public transit systems have also been focusing on the ventilation component. This article was published more than2 years ago. Since 2012, theyve rolled as fast as 110 mph there. 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. "MEASURE THE AIRDr. 00:31) (CG: DR. BOB ARNOT, INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT) 10:25 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. BO ARNOT IS A LONGTIME MEDICAL JOURNALIST AND AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT, WHO TREATED EBOLA PATIENTS IN AFRICA. 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. 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. Im Linda, and Ill be your cabin attendant taking care of you all the way to Los Angeles. Lindas cheerful spirit was contagious, giving me the first real feeling of excitement and adventure since my last trip, a food-filled exploration of Houston back in late February. 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. 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. Texas Eagle Train 21 which departed Chicago (CHI) on 2/27, is currently being delayed in Taylor (TAY) due to law enforcement activity ahead. Rossi is a medical doctor in Pekin, Illinois, and CEO of Reditus Laboratories, a company that conducts COVID-19 testing. 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. I was excited. That [risk] could be mitigated and reduced with mask use, but its still possible [to become infected].. The folding lounge bench and viewing seat were made of a fabric similar to what youd find on an airplane. However, this was not the case on my train. 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. Business is now at about 70% of pre-COVID levels, up from 25% at this time in FY20, and based on the current forecast, ridership and revenue is expected to improve to about 80% of pre-COVID levels by the end of fiscal year 2022. And keeping conversation to a minimum could also reduce the danger because talking is known to release aerosols that can spread the virus. Theres no filtration system in the world that will move air fast enough to get COVID-19 away from you before you can be exposed to it, says Lofgren. (CG: PATRICIA QUINN, NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND PASSENGER RAIL AUTHORITY) 09:25 IT EXCHANGES SEVERAL TIMES AN HOUR. Amtrak typically makes track announcements between 10 and 15 minutes before departure, and I wanted to get a good seat. Although no mode of public transportation is completely safe, there are some concrete ways to reduce risk, whether on an airplane, train or busor even in a shared car. They even had a decent selection of vegetarian and gluten-free options. When I finally made it to the dining room the next day, after official breakfast hours were over, Sandy and Linda greeted me. 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. "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.PUBLIC TRANSIT ADAPTSPublic transit systems have also been focusing on the ventilation component.Amtrak put out a video highlighting its air filtration system, citing numbers that it cycles air through the train cars on average 44 times an hour, replacing with fresh air about every 5 minutes. Siemens says these SC-44 Charger locomotives have a top speed of 125 mph, although they cant roll nearly that fast just yet between the Motor City and the Windy City. If another passenger somehow ends up sitting or standing too close to you, politely ask them to moveor, better, move yourself. Ive made a habit of giving every hotel room or Airbnb Ive stayed in during the pandemic a solid wipe down for my own sanity and security. Customers are assigned specific seats once they board, says Predmore, and they wont be seated next to or facing other passengersunless theyre traveling together with friends or family members. THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO: IN HOMES, SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, EVEN PUBLIC TRANSIT -- TO LOWER THE RISK IN FACT: IN A LOT OF CASES -- THE SOLUTION IS SUPER SIMPLE. COVID-19 Innovative Adaptations As COVID-19 has greatly impacted the transportation industry, Amtrak has had to make some innovative adaptations. 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. Sophie Bushwick is an associate editor covering technology at Scientific American. Since then, that number has climbed north of 30% as the calendar moved closer to summer. As the coronavirus pandemic .css-9cezh6{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#E61957;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-9cezh6:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}rages on around the world, experts reiterate that the safest way to travel is via your own two feetpreferably using them to go on a nice, solitary walk around the block or through the woods. It found no correlation between mass transit use and transmission of the virus. For someone like me with immune issues that put them in a higher-risk category for COVID-19, having this option offered an off-load of anxiety. .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. Airline seating is much more confined than the seating on Amtrak cars, Silverman said. While driving and flying are the most popular travel options, where does taking a train fit into pandemic travel? Private Rooms 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. Experts worry safe ventilation overlooked as coronavirus capacity limits, mask mandates lift, WMTW NEWS 8'S STEVE BOTTARI REPORTS THERE'S ANOTHER PIECE OF THE SAFETY PUZZLE: VENTILATION. Wearing a mask also probably helps, and ride-share companies Uber and Lyft both require drivers and passengers to do so. For decades, improvements crept at the pace of a freight train inching through a switchyard. Among . However, she adds, I dont think many people realize that the trains have very sophisticated ventilation. An onboard filtration system continuously refreshes the space every four to five minutes, removing air from the cars interior and replacing it with new, conditioned, external air. Windows, as well as open ceiling vents, allow fresh air to enter the vehicle. Federal law says freight trains must yield to passenger trains when both want to use the same track. They announced several times, you must wear the mask over your nose and mouth or we can kick you off, she said. Corrie Pikul is the Health and Wellness Director of O, The Oprah magazine, where she covers every aspect of health, from mood to the microbiome, the immune system to the cardiovascular system, sex to sleep. METRO launched a joint website with regional transit systems to provide information to riders about safety protocols. In contrast, Amtrak conductors were very strict about keeping everyone socially distanced. Silverman called her trip a relaxing way to travel.. Khabbaza recommends train travelers book a private roomette or bedroom if they can afford to and if they are available. And, the company's 18,000 employees are required to be vaccinated or submit to weekly testing, effective Nov. 1. "Almost no cases came from somebody touching something -- all the time and effort spent washing when it should have been ventilation, number one, and masks, number two.". 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. However, on the routes where the boarding announcements didnt sound as intense about COVID policies, passengers seemed less inclined to follow the rules. This time, I was in one of the private bedrooms located on the second floor of the trains two-bedroom sleeper cars. In fact, we have a full-time medical director and public health and safety team who have been on the frontlines throughout the COVID-19 outbreak. National Railroad Passenger Corporation. Schools have been some of the first places to take a hard look at their ventilation. 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. But as is the case with buses, these barriers would likely only protect against larger droplets, not aerosols. WASHINGTON Amtrak successfully advanced its COVID-19 recovery efforts throughout its 50th Anniversary fiscal year, through continued safety measures for customers and employees, increased train service levels in line with growing demand and continued building a strong foundation for modernization and growth. Wundermans advice for travelers considering taking trains this holiday season is to book a roomette or fly instead. Amtrak asked for $3.88 billion for "base needs" and to address the impact of COVID-19 and $1.55 billion in additional U.S. funding needed to address Northeast Corridor infrastructure projects and . So Flynn also asked Congress to give Amtrak the right to sue freight rail operations in federal court, so we can ensure our customers are not unnecessarily delayed by freight trains, and arrive on time.. We talked to Amtraks corporate medical director, Ann Kuhnen, MD, as well as two epidemiologists about why these precautions matter, and what else you should know before booking a trip. WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao today announced that the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is making over $1 billion available to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) to support the railroad's activities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the . 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. Dont let them spoil a trip. This summer, expect lots of open windows on the buses too to add extra ventilation, officials said. 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. 01:32 (LOSE FILE CHIP) IT'S NOT JUST BUILDINGS -- PUBLIC TRANSIT LIKE AMTRAK HAS BEEN LOOKING AT AIR QUALITY TOO. Companies have also implemented rigorous cleaning procedures between flights. Up until this point, all of my anxiety about traveling during a pandemic had managed to drown out something I hadnt even considered: the excitement of traveling. 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. 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. After locking the door behind me and closing the privacy curtain, I immediately took out my tub of Clorox wipes. Katherine Alex Beaven is a Los Angeles-based travel, food and drink, and culture writer. 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. 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.. Offers may be subject to change without notice. "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." Limiting rides to short trips may also be helpful. Arnot said he has submitted a proposal to the Biden Administration to mandate carbon dioxide meters in public indoor spaces like bars and restaurants. A number of subway and train systems use lower-rated MERV filters that are still capable of at least reducing the volume of coronavirus in the air. "Maine is known as an outdoors place, as a fresh air place, as a natural place. Bring disinfectant wipes to clean the surfaces in your area, like the armrests and tray tables. On pure reflex, I shot to the window to watch as we rode over the Willamette River. Many transit companies have established frequent cleaning routines, but evidence suggests that airborne transmission of the novel coronavirus poses a greater danger than surfaces. "Maine is known as an outdoors place, as a fresh air place, as a natural place.". Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. On Jan. 25, a test train with no passengers pulled new coaches from Chicago to Pontiac, then back again to Chicago on Jan. 26. Space: Do you have any personal space, do you have enough distance between you and others? We may earn commission from the links on this page. COVID-19 has fast-tracked many innovations already in the works. 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. So far on the journey, Id soaked in the wooded landscape of the Pacific Northwest, gluing myself to the window as we snaked through trees already painted with golden yellows, bright oranges, and fiery reds. "We have been waylaid by the CDC with 'wash all this stuff,'" Dr. Arnot said. If the tests go well, METRO may add the purification to the rest of the fleet.For the buses, ridership is down about 60% from pre-pandemic levels.METRO launched a joint website with regional transit systems to provide information to riders about safety protocols.This summer, expect lots of open windows on the buses too to add extra ventilation, officials said.That, this summer -- and even heading into colder months -- may be the key, according to Dr. Arnot:"Fundamentally you've got to have clean outdoor air, indoors and where could you possibly have better air than the state of Maine. This is what experts say. All of that may, literally, require an act of Congress. I felt pretty confident that Amtrak was on top of their pandemic protocols, a collection of new and enhanced cleaning and health safety measures that they developed with their full-time medical and health safety team who has experience on the frontlines of COVID-19. Amtrak hopes this slower stretch of track, owned by MDOT since 2012, can be upgraded by the end of 2022. A representative is available by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide information regarding railroad operating matters. This left a total of five dining tables open (all of which must be reserved for a specific time in advance). UPDATE: Train 178 is back on the move and currently operating approx. That time, I had bought a business class ticket, an upgrade that came with two free bottles of water, an onboard food credit, and even a free early evening wine tasting. In a case study of a bus in China, a passenger with the novel coronavirus was able to infect many other riders, including those seated up to seven rows away. Follow Sophie Bushwick on TwitterCredit: Nick Higgins, Tanya Lewis is a senior editor at Scientific American who covers health and medicine. 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. However, Amtrak doesnt allow passengers to open windows any longer because of safety regulations and the central air conditioning. Follow her on Twitter @unamandita, Rob Jackson, Corinne Le Qur, Pep Canadell, Pierre Friedlingstein and Glen Peters | Opinion. Jim Mathews, president and CEO of the Rail Passengers Association, notes that an Amtrak coach changes the air about 12 to 15 times per hour, and supplies 15 pounds of fresh air per minute per. WITH MASKS ABOUT TO BE TOSSED ASIDE FOR GOOD -- THAT BRINGS ALL THE MORE ATTENTION ON SOMETHING SOME EXPERTS SAY HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED IN THIS PANDEMIC -- THE QUALITY OF AIR WE BREATHE. For homes and many businesses, the solution may be as simple as keeping all the windows open as much as possible. 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. 7 In March 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration issued Emergency Use Authorizations to several manufacturers for helmet use in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure from COVID-19. We were off. 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. Silverman is a travel agent, operating a Cruise Planners franchise from her home. Most passengers were respectful of the rules, though there was the occasional person who used this rule as a way to get around wearing a mask for an extended period of time in other sections, like the observation car. "We know this is an airborne virus. As I plopped down on the folded seating bench and pulled out my phone to start taking pictures, I remembered reading about other overnight Amtrak experiences that detailed the freshly disinfected roomettes. "Two of our new buses have an air purification, a U.V. When the train is approaching your stop, avoid crowding near the door and pay attention to crew announcements advising customers how and where to exit the train. Thats far less risky than the indoor settings of airport security lines and waiting areas where passengers gather and sit before boarding. If you happen to be seated close to a person who is actively shedding the virus, especially if it is a long flight or that person is not wearing a mask, there is a higher chance that you will get the disease. Shorter ridesespecially those under roughly 15 minutespose a lower risk than long ones. While many parts of my experience failed to meet my expectations, there were others that exceeded them. Still, a handful of case studies have found that limited transmission can take place onboard. By the time I reached the dining car, I was relieved to see that Sandy, the dining room attendant, was masked and wiping down tables. Dr. Arnot said he has submitted a proposal to the Biden Administration to mandate carbon dioxide meters in public indoor spaces like bars and restaurants. Under roughly 15 minutespose a lower risk than long ones helps, and CEO of Reditus Laboratories a! Find on an airplane popular travel options, where does taking a train fit into pandemic travel than long.! Off, she adds, I shot to the Biden Administration to mandate carbon dioxide meters in public spaces! Impacted the transportation industry, Amtrak has had to make some Innovative Adaptations as COVID-19 has fast-tracked many already. Minutespose a lower risk than long ones transmission of the virus trains when both want to use the same.! 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