There was also a metal utility sink, molded plastic wall, and an airplane-sized bathroom with a handheld shower nozzle over the toilet. Here is how they should work: You will upload proof of your vaccination, plus any required coronavirus test results or health waivers, into a mobile app (or if you dont have a smartphone, there will be something you can print out). . A car is only as safe as the precautious you take, according to Suzanne Pham, a physician who directs Weiss Memorial Hospital's COVID-19 hospital response in Chicago. Amtraks Coast Starlight is a Superliner, a fancy term that basically means its a double-decker train which, as I would find out, is great for views, but can get a little rocky in your private room. Weve sent you an email with instructions to reset your password instead. 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.. By combining our safety efforts with the guidance of our medical director and partnership with George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, we want our customers to have a renewed sense of confidence. Amtrak has canceled about two dozen trains, blaming bad weather and COVID-19 cases among workers. Offered on many routes, private rooms offer the perfect option for customers seeking privacy and space on a short trip and added comfort and amenities when traveling overnight. Every ride counts as an Amtrak Guest Rewards member. Review this handy guide and make your trip as trouble-free as possible. It's been updated to reflect recent Amtrak procedures. Ridership is still down leaving inter-city trains with scores of open seats from which to choose. Customers should not travel when experiencing COVID-19 symptoms . and For answers to your COVID-19 questions, call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634). Amtrak also requires its employees to either be vaccinated or take a COVID-19 test on a weekly basis. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply. Amtrak has temporarily dropped its mandate for all employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19, a requirement that the rail service had said would likely result in cuts to service. Amtrak encourages boarding with eTickets, which conductors scan from the Amtrak app. Enter the email address or member number associated with your account. Amtrak is no longer limiting capacity. Be sure to step over the gap between the train and platform. The railroad said in an email to . Your password must be at least 8 characters long, include at least 1 alpha character, and include at least 1 number or special character (- ? Customers can travel with extra confidence knowing all our trains are equipped with onboard filtration systems with a fresh air exchange rate every 4-5 minutes. / : ; < = > ? Youre vaccinated and ready to travel. If Amtrak needs to change your reservation, it will contact you and offer you an alternative trip. Wear shoes at all times and use caution when wearing shoes without rubber soles. Amtrak will no longer require masks to be worn on board its trains as the COVID-19 mask mandate will no longer be enforced by the Transportation Security Administration. Passengers purchasing tickets onboard trains from conductors must provide photo identification and be at least 16 years old. U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak told a U.S. House of Representatives panel on Thursday it expects to be forced to temporarily cut some service in January because of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. However, the room was almost remarkably dated nostalgic even. | Layovers, Road trips: Tips | Rental cars | Best snacks | Long-haul trains | Rest stops | Cross-country drive, Destinations: Hawaii | Private islands | Australia | Mexico | Alaska | Puerto Rico. terms and conditions Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription toAARP The Magazine. Katherine Alex Beaven is a Los Angeles-based travel, food and drink, and culture writer. The journey was smooth, . Before their trips, passengers are encouraged to download theAmtrak app, which allows you to scan an e-ticket to board and receive gate and track information on your device at certain stations eliminating the need to crowd around departure boards. / : ; < = > ? Once youre done getting your vaccine shot(s), protect that fragile document like a Faberg egg. The same goes while aboard their trains. Please enter a password. Watch your step when boarding and leaving the train. And if it is, make sure youre familiar with any restrictions in place. Amtrak says the reductions should have minimal impact because ridership remains down by 25 percent, and the schedule changes coincide with a slower travel season. Earn points toward reward travel, upgrades and more. Earn points toward reward travel, upgrades and more. Depending on where you are going (and what the status of vaccine passports are when you go), you may need to show the vaccine card before you board a plane, or before you pass customs and immigration, among other entry points. 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. To keep station crowds to a minimum, Amtrak is also urging passengers not to arrive too far in advance. 1. Detours with locals. Please enable JavaScript on your browser and try again. Instead of eating in the dining car, I took advantage of Amtraks new room service option and had all my meals delivered right to my room at a time of my choosing. Though it was a shared space . Please enter a password. Food and drink options could stay limited on planes, trains and at airports. Since my journey seemed to vary from what I had read about other pandemic Amtrak experiences, I decided to reach out to travel writer Ali Wunderman, who had journeyed overnight on Amtraks Empire Builder train, which runs from Chicago to Portland, Oregon. By clicking Join, you acknowledge you have read and agree to the program terms, including the binding arbitration agreement, in the We were off. And, for a moment, everything felt normal again. When searching for travel, customers will see the percentage of seats sold next to each route as customers make reservations. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. fully vaccinated people can travel again. An email with password reset instructions is on the way. Passwords are case sensitive. That answer wasnt correct either. Some places may fine (or in extreme cases, arrest) travelers who do not adhere to local guidelines. You asked: Can I get a refund if the airline changed my flight time? Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats: + I observed room attendants entering the private rooms of passengers who were not wearing masks. Let's try a different question. Weve sent you an email with instructions to reset your password instead. This is what 6 experts say. In other words, unless I chose to, I wouldnt have to interact or share space with any other passengers on my 30-hour journey from Portland to Los Angeles. Bad weather and employee COVID-19 cases led Amtrak to reduce its trains' schedule between New Year's Eve and Jan. 6. . 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. While nearly 97 percent of Amtrak workers are fully vaccinated, several hundred employees including service personnel, conductors, engineers and mechanical crew members have been sidelined. 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. Even though the train runs parallel to certain sections of the freeway, these are vantage points that you can only witness from the train. Your password must be at least 8 characters long, include at least 1 alpha character, and include at least 1 number or special character (- ? 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. On-the-Spot Requests In instances when it is not feasible or practical to make a request in advance, passengers can request an "on-the-spot" modification to the policy, procedure or practice at any time to any Amtrak employee. Lets leave the covid origin mystery to scientists, Covid, flu, RSV declining in hospitals as tripledemic threat fades. Join AARP for just $9 per yearwhen you sign up for a 5-year term. Seats are auto assigned on trains with the reserved seating option; however, they can be changed using an interactive diagram on Amtrak.com or the Amtrak app. Fee waivers: Amtrak is waiving all change fees for any changes made by December 31, 2023 on fares that have change fees. Over the past few months, Ive taken four trains over three Amtrak routes, Wunderman told me. Making Reservations for Passengers with a Disability, Meal Service for Passengers with a Disability, Mechanical Bulletins for Private Rail Cars. COVID-19 has fast-tracked many innovations already in the works. But it has made it easier to determine if youll find the train crowded once youre aboard. Heres your pre-trip checklist. Notify staff of the presence of a COVID-19 case and/or outbreak in the facility based on facility policy and procedure 6. Amtrak also requires its employees to either be vaccinated or take a COVID-19 test on a weekly basis. March 15, 20213:28 PM. # $ % & ' ( ) * + , - . While the ruling is being reviewed, the Biden administration confirmed on Monday night that the TSA will not enforce mask-wearing. @Amtrak and @SharonDevol It looks like the COVID check form is having problems on your website, as it continuously says it is having trouble finding our reservation, and your main 1-800 number is giving a busy signal every time I try to call today. # $ % & ' ( ) * + , - . Amtrak will respond to passenger requests within 72 hours. Passwords should be at least 10 characters long and include 1 uppercase and 1 lowercase alpha character, 1 number and 1 special character. 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. If capacity exceeds comfort levels, customers can change their ticket without incurring a change fee. Its really understanding where am I going, what do I want to get out of this trip and what will be the expectations for me? says Elizabeth Blount McCormick, the president of international travel management company Uniglobe Travel Designers. 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items. But be warned: Travel insurance doesnt cover everything. The folding lounge bench and viewing seat were made of a fabric similar to what youd find on an airplane. That answer wasnt correct either. The railroad entity told. Passwords are case sensitive, should be at least 10 characters long and should include 1 uppercase and 1 lowercase alpha character, 1 number and 1 special character. Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term -43% off the standard annual rate, Access exclusive discounts, programs, & services, Double down with a FREE second membership. CDC's COVID-19 Community Levels provide information about the amount of severe illness in the community where you are located to help you decide when to take action to protect yourself and . Passwords are case sensitive. (Riders can still use the Silver Star or Palmetto routes to reach destinations served by the Silver Meteor. / : ; < = > ? privacy policy. Amtrak became the latest company to require vaccinations for employees on Thursday, joining several airlines that have mandated the jab. Amtrak has undertaken heightened security measures for the benefit of our customers. . Arrive at least 30 minutes before your train is due to depart. Amtrak passengers can now see how full their train will be upon booking amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Is driving still safer than flying if youre vaccinated? Amtrak will reduce its service between Friday and Jan. 6 as it grapples with a rising number of COVID-19 cases among workers and poor weather conditions, according to The Washington Post.Among the affected routes include four trains between Washington and Springfield, Mass., overnight trains between Newport News, Va. and Boston and several trains between New York and New Orleans, among others . This process is automatic. News Airlines United Airlines Amtrak Joe Biden. 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. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Weve sent you an email with instructions to reset your password instead. Review restriction information by looking up your destinations local government websites. At first, the feeling was confusing and almost unrecognizable, but then it hit me: For the first time in seven months, I wasnt just going somewhere I was traveling. ! " Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. We have studied, analyzed, and made improvements to the Amtrak travel experience from beginning to end, focusing on the safety and health of our people and travelers.". ! " Please enter a password. 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). Weve sent you an email with instructions to reset your password instead. Onboard dining service is largely back to pre-pandemic practices. By signing in to your account you acknowledge you have read and agree to the updated terms and conditions, including the binding arbitration agreement. Oops, that answer wasn't quite right. It remains to be seen how important vaccine passports will be in your day-to-day life, but we do know they will be important for travel. Overall, it has reduced service by 8 percent, including on its busy Northeast Regional service (from Boston to Virginia). Passwords are case sensitive. Lena H. Sun and Lori Aratani contributed to this report. In a crowded place, a face mask or respirator keeps the virus away, The investigation into covids origins must continue, Your questions about covid-19, answered by Dr. Leana Wen, Lab leak report energizes Republicans covid probes, We are asking the wrong question about the origins of covid, Doctors who touted ivermectin as covid fix now pushing it for flu, RSV, First combination home test for flu and covid cleared by the FDA. Since not all routes have the reserved seating option, customers are able to see seating availability to get a sense of how busy their train will be. Curious what the rest of the train looked like, I put my mask back on and ventured out into the wild, opening the doors between cars by using the trains hands-free, foot-level release button. A Coronavirus Checklist: Prepare for the Possibility You May Get Very Sick. 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. Passwords are case sensitive, should be at least 10 characters long and should include 1 uppercase and 1 lowercase alpha character, 1 number and 1 special character. I wanted to determine if my experience was more the exception or the norm. 5. ! " It turned out to be a rough night, full of rattles and rumbles. Please enter a valid station, city, or address. When searching for travel online or on the Amtrak app, the percentage of seats sold displays next to each trip option. A half hour before departure is recommended for most passengers, 60 minutes for those who need help with ticketing or baggage. Linking to a non-federal Website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. There are many ways your actions can help protect you, your household, and your community from severe illness from COVID-19. Pack or ship your luggage according to our baggage guidelines and make the most of our service. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. ! " Travel news, guides and tips for anyone looking to get away. Do bivalent boosters work against XBB.1.5? Customers should avoid travel if currently experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, if tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 10 days or if meeting public health criteria for quarantine. Only use authorized Amtrak Red Cap service for assistance. / : ; < = > ? The company updated its policy in reaction to the TSA no longer enforcing the mask mandate. 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. Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this same approach could be taken in relation to masking. Making Reservations for Passengers with a Disability, Meal Service for Passengers with a Disability, Mechanical Bulletins for Private Rail Cars, Exchanging, refunding or reprinting Amtrak travel documents, Purchasing documents with a stored eVoucher or Transportation Credit, Traveling as a Pass Rider (active or retired), Asked onboard trains by train crew members, other Amtrak or operating railroad employees, Asked any time by Amtrak police or any law enforcement officer, Guardian purchasing an unaccompanied minor travel documents or signing the release form, One piece of photo identification issued by a government authority, or, Two pieces of identification, at least one of which is issued by a government authority, Official government-issued identification (federal, state, city or county government or foreign government), Canadian provincial health card ID card with photo, Student identification (university, college or high school photo ID). Amtrak President Stephen Gardner told a House Transportation subcommittee that roughly 95% of its 17,000 employees have been fully vaccinated ahead of a Jan. 4 deadline. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. 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. Dec. 14, 2021 5:46 pm ET. To find out if train travel is safe right now, we talked to experts and an Amtrak representative to find out risks to know when boarding during COVID. (For a low-key getaway nearby when there is less money on the line, travel insurance might not be warranted.). 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. ), Nine other long-distance trains are reduced to operating five days a week, instead of daily. Amtrak is temporarily suspending a requirement for employees to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by early January, the railroad said Tuesday, a move that could stave off a feared . I had 29 and a half hours to go. You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. And be sure to contact your particular airline about any changes in travel rules, including: Current mask policies for kids and adults (throughout check-in, boarding and the flight itself) Traveling with infants on your lap Changes in meal service Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. 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Rules that apply to Reward Tickets redeemed using Amtrak Guest Reward points are not affected by this waiver. "We've made and continue to make incredible investments so that we can come out of this pandemic as a new and improved Amtrak," the company's site reads. 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. First up:facial coverings. In short: people want different options for travel, and Amtrak threads the needle, accommodating varying needs. Amtrak has required its customers and workers to wear masks since May of 2020. Its the ultimate transient experience: Almost as soon as you see something out the window, its gone, and then everything eventually fades to black. This expansion also marks the first time customers can reserve a seat in the Quiet Car. An email with password reset instructions is on the way. 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. Text. The pandemic after the pandemic: Long covid haunts millions of people. For the foreseeable future, we will still be following coronavirus precautions and restrictions. Report any suspicious behavior to police, station personnel. Dont laminate the original, as you may need to document future booster shots on it. The national rail service has temporarily cut back operations due to staffing shortages fueled by the omicron variant. Amtrak's unique travel experience for families, individuals and groups, Tickets & fares, accessible travel service, security & ID requirements, Boarding information, station lounges, baggage & station services, Seating & sleeping, baggage info, train amenities, food & dining, Amtrak travel deals, promotions and other partner offers, Savings for Kids, Seniors, Military, Groups and More, Train vacation packages throughout North America, USA Rail passes, monthly passes and multi-ride tickets, Earn points toward Amtrak reward travel, upgrades and more, Discover member benefits, ways to earn or redeem points and more, Explore ways to earn points that can quickly add up to great rewards, Get even more benefits with an Amtrak Guest Rewards credit card. COVID-19, and more than 1,600 of those workers have died. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. "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," the statement read. Amtrak, which employs more than 20,000 people, is subject to the White House vaccine mandate that government contractors require employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 4, with . Amtrak estimates that 97.3% of its workforce has at least one dose of a COVID vaccine and 95.7% is fully vaccinated, leaving fewer than 500 active employees who have not complied with the vaccine . As soon as I stepped into the boarding line at Portlands Union Station, I noticed signs of the times: masks and markers on the floor, instructing people where to stand. 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. Complete line list for National Railroad Passenger Corporation, https://www.amtrak.com/content/amtrak/en-us/planning-booking/tickets-id-safety-security/passenger-identification. . 2 . 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. It was our very first time on any Amtrak train. (2 minutes) Amtrak said it would suspend its Covid-19 vaccine mandate for employees, a reversal from last week's policy stance that the rail . Enter the email address or member number associated with your account. And thats when I got to work. Customers can view where there might be empty seats to allow for greater distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. While airlines, ride-sharing services, and other forms public transportation have been announcing its own policies, it remains unclear whether the U.S. Department of Justice will file an appeal to halt the order. Use seat backs and handrails while walking through the train. Get flash sales, Amtrak Guest Rewards promotions and account updates sent directly to your inbox. Id spent the day watching the outside world flicker by like a silent film, a few minutes at a time. Do I need another booster? We have useful tips and information for travelers like you to make your first rail journey as enjoyable as it could be. Despite these rules, the woman directly behind me left her nose poking out over the top of her mask as she carried on an animated conversation with her traveler partner. Learn how vehicle tech like blind spot warnings and drowsy driving alerts can help make driving safer. @ [ \ ] ^ _ ` < | > ~. Your password must be at least 8 characters long, include at least 1 alpha character, and include at least 1 number or special character (- ? Let's try a different question. Making Reservations for Passengers with a Disability, Meal Service for Passengers with a Disability, Mechanical Bulletins for Private Rail Cars, share your train travel experience with us. The policy change comes a day after Tampa's U.S. District Court Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle ruled in a 59-page decision that the "mask mandate exceeds the CDC's statutory authority and violated the procedures required for agency rulemaking." For passengers in private cabins, formal traditional dining with chef-prepared meals has returned to most long-distance trains. 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Masks covering your nose and mouth are required by Amtrak in all stations, as is keeping proper social distance from others. Enter a valid Guest Rewards number or email address.