However, on the routes where the boarding announcements didnt sound as intense about COVID policies, passengers seemed less inclined to follow the rules. 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. 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. 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. Silverman is a travel agent, operating a Cruise Planners franchise from her home. 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. However, my room did not have any signs of being newly cleaned, prompting me to do a thorough inspection and ultimately wipe everything down. As I set my things down, the train rolled into motion. 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. 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. Hi, there, she said before getting surprisingly excited. "We were at 2,000 PPM for the local classrooms here, and we opened the window and we were at 550 PPM," Arnot said. Public transit systems have also been focusing on the ventilation component. 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. You are safest in your seat. While driving and flying are the most popular travel options, where does taking a train fit into pandemic travel? "There is a lot of exchange," said Patricia Quinn, executive director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which operates the Downeaster. multi-million-dollar and multi-year project, Amtrak Recognized as One of Americas Best Large Employers. Greater Portland METRO has installed high-tech purification systems onboard their new buses. But even with fresh air available, an infected passenger can still transmit the coronavirus to someone who. 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. Most of these flights occurred early on in the pandemic, however, and in the case of the March 1 flight, masks were likely not worn, the researchers wrote. 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. 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. (Air travel was also down by 96 percent). It wasnt. Monitoring carbon dioxide levels, getting more fresh outdoor air in spaces key. 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. 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. Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada took major hits in the two years since COVID-19 pushed much of the world into lockdown mode. 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. Many buses have HVAC (heating, ventilating and air-conditioning) systems similar to those on subways and trains, with one additional factor: buses are more likely to have windows that open. The new coaches, built in the U.S. by the German multinational company Siemens, will be pulled by almost-new Siemens Charger locomotives, which Amtrak began introducing in the Midwest in 2018 and 2019, according to Amtrak officials. In Vermont, Dr. Arnot advised some of the local school districts on how to improve their air quality. During the COVID-19 pandemic, local train travel dipped from 8,000 passengers a day to 200. Explore our digital archive back to 1845, including articles by more than 150 Nobel Prize winners. Thats far less risky than the indoor settings of airport security lines and waiting areas where passengers gather and sit before boarding. Passenger train operator Amtrak claims to cycle air through cabins 44 times an hour. He has also been recommending face shields to patients. There seemed to be less risk of transmission, however, for people who were seated near windows and doors that could open. With flying, COVID risk really comes down to how closely one sits to other people and for how long, whether or not everyone is wearing a mask, and how infectious any passengers are at the time. 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. "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. 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. "And that has really been something that I think has given people a sense of comfort. Also, Magliari said: We have significantly more spacing (than airlines and buses) between our seats. While this reserved seating option doesn't apply to your local, commuter train, you can follow the same best practices. Khabbaza recommends train travelers book a private roomette or bedroom if they can afford to and if they are available. 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. 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 . I flagged down Linda, who promptly set up my bed, made sure I was set for the night, and then left me to listen to the audiobook Id downloaded and text my friends during the on-and-off pockets of service (I didnt attempt to join the Wi-Fi this go-around.) It sits in the air and moves over time and space," said Dr. Bob Arnot, a longtime medical journalist and infectious disease expert who treated Ebola patients in Africa in the early 2000s. Time: How much of it will you be spending in a place where you could get infected? The great newsfrom an epidemiological, safety, and comfort standpointis that Amtrak is limiting bookings on reserved trains, which will allow for more physical distancing in seating areas. And be sure to wash your hands after boarding (Amtrak bathrooms are equipped with soap and running water). If another passenger somehow ends up sitting or standing too close to you, politely ask them to moveor, better, move yourself. 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. Many airlines now require passengers to wear a mask during flights except for mealtimes, and some are blocking off middle seats to allow more distancing between people. Is this your first time on the Coast Starlight? Linda asked. Heres how to stay safe. The driver of a tractor-trailer struck by an Amtrak train in Vermont on Monday has been ticketed. On the train, it's critical to wear a mask. 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.". At most, it cuts transmission substantially. He recommends only removing your mask to eat or drink. Theres not enough data on either to say which is safer, but the same risk factors are at play. I had 29 and a half hours to go. (CG: PATRICIA QUINN, NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND PASSENGER RAIL AUTHORITY) 09:25 IT EXCHANGES SEVERAL TIMES AN HOUR. Follow Sophie Bushwick on TwitterCredit: Nick Higgins, Tanya Lewis is a senior editor at Scientific American who covers health and medicine. "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.". 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. 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. 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. I grabbed a cup of freshly brewed coffee, and put in my order for lunch. She said she was impressed with Amtraks COVID-19 precautions. "And that has really been something that I think has given people a sense of comfort.". A Free Press article last year documented that Amtraks trains had become routinely late across much of the nation, with Michigan trains the very latest. (The results were published this month in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.) 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 virus is thought to be spread primarily by small droplets, called aerosols, that hang in the air and larger droplets that fall to the ground within six feet or so. 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. I noticed that on the Empire Builder, my attendant was frequently sanitizing the car, my roomette smelled of disinfectant when I boarded, and the conductor sounded very serious about policing passengers about wearing masks., She went on to say that she never saw a room attendant without a mask on, unless they were in their own room with the door closed and even then, they rushed to put on a mask before opening the door for her. But if you are seated relatively far from others, and everyone is wearing a mask, your risk is probably fairly low. Nearly 500 Police and Sheriffs departments across 43 states and the District of Columbia joined the Amtrak Police Department and Operation Lifesaver Inc. to conduct Operation Clear Track, the single largest railroad safety law enforcement detail in the U.S. Amtrak also trained 3,052 employees in Safety Starts with Me, an internal safety program. My lunch was delivered right as we entered my favorite stretch of the journey, when the scenery of central California expanded with the wineries of Paso Robles, then surrounded us on all sides with mountains. Learn more atAmtrak.com and connect with us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. There was also a metal utility sink, molded plastic wall, and an airplane-sized bathroom with a handheld shower nozzle over the toilet. For homes and many businesses, the solution may be as simple as keeping all the windows open as much as possible. light filter, and we are testing that," said Denise Beck, Marketing and Community Outreach Manager for Greater Portland METRO. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Travel writer Ali Wunderman has taken a couple long-distance Amtrak trips during the pandemic, from Montana to the Bay Area in August and from Portland, Ore., to Chicago, then to Boston in September and October. Over the past few months, Ive taken four trains over three Amtrak routes, Wunderman told me. 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. Theres not a huge amount of evidence that contaminated surfaces are the major source of transmission of COVID-19, says Lofgren. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Reliable data on the frequency of COVID transmission in cars is lacking, however. When thinking about the risk of transmission, I like to use a rhyme that was coined by Bill Miller, an epidemiologist at The Ohio State University: people, place, time, and space, says Eleanor J. Murray, ScD, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Boston University School of Public Health. That made me not want to gather in any kind of a public space while on the train whatsoever, she said. But later reviews of the evidence suggest mass transit systems have not been major drivers of viral spread. The place is the environment. (CG: DENISE BECK, GREATER PORTLAND METRO) 04:04 TWO OF OUR NEW BUSSES HAVE AN AIR PURIFICATION, A UV LIGHT FILTER -- AND WE ARE TESTING THAT. "MEASURE THE AIRDr. I was excited. "It's not to measure whether you have too much carbon dioxide as any kind of a toxin," Dr. Arnot said. The data emerging from a handful of new research papers show that COVID-19 can build up in poorly ventilated spaces. The airport, for example, is usually an extremely busy place with people coming and going from all over, and passengers typically spend a long time cooped up together waiting for their plane. Preliminary results for fiscal year 2021 (Oct. 2020 Sept. 2021) include: Amtrak highlights in fiscal year 2021 include: Amtrak Contact I observed room attendants entering the private rooms of passengers who were not wearing masks. On pure reflex, I shot to the window to watch as we rode over the Willamette River. In fact, I had taken my inaugural journey on the bucket-list route back in early February, riding south from San Francisco to San Luis Obispo and then, a few days later, catching the train down again to the end of the line in Los Angeles. "Cambridge University says it is the best overall indicator of whether or not you have fresh air in that room or not. 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. With COVID-19 reaching the most dangerous levels the U.S. has seen since the pandemic began, the country faces a problematic holiday season. Anyone needing or choosing to wear one is encouraged to do so. This summer, expect lots of open windows on the buses too to add extra ventilation, officials said. 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.. 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 . 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. "We have been waylaid by the CDC with 'wash all this stuff,'" Dr. Arnot said. 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. COVID-19 Innovative Adaptations As COVID-19 has greatly impacted the transportation industry, Amtrak has had to make some innovative adaptations. Although its already twice the size of a roomette, the bedroom cabins are much more spacious than they appear online. Knowledge awaits. Feb. 28, 2023, at 5:33 p.m. Tractor-Trailer Driver Ticketed in Collision With Train. Additionally, Amtrak now shows the capacity of its trains online as people shop for tickets, which may help customers choose emptier options. "We were at 2,000 PPM for the local classrooms here, and we opened the window and we were at 550 PPM," Arnot said.The doctors say the upper limit of any building you would want to be in would be around 800 PPM, measured by CO2 meters that are available online and in most home improvement stores for around $100.Some Maine schools, like in Gorham, have used federal relief bill money to install upgrade their ventilation systems. It is nearly impossible for drivers and passengers to remain six feet apart in a car, so transmission is definitely possible. "Youll have much more control over your environment and you can go a long way without being in contact with other people. It has less to do with germy surfaces than you think. Arnot said he has submitted a proposal to the Biden Administration to mandate carbon dioxide meters in public indoor spaces like bars and restaurants. "I think Maine is very well positioned," Quinn said. Amtrak will restore traditional dining car service on six western routes and the Auto Train on June 23. 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. Federal law says freight trains must yield to passenger trains when both want to use the same track. At the same time, the rail service announced that it would begin strictly monitoring where passengers sit and how many board each car. Inside Ground Zero of the Coronavirus Pandemic, Oprah On COVID-19's Deadly Impact on Black America, The Governors Helping Americans Survive COVID. Some Maine schools, like in Gorham, have used federal relief bill money to install upgrade their ventilation systems. 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. Amtrak passengers can now see how full their train will be upon booking amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Amtrak. While the view itself wasnt breathtaking, I found myself holding my breath. AMTRAK Covid-19 Practices Puts Passengers and Workers at Risk News provided by. Suddenly, taking an overnight train from Portland to Los Angeles felt like an adventure. Still, a handful of case studies have found that limited transmission can take place onboard. He adds, Weve seen this in studies of flu transmission on airplanes. While the flu virus doesnt necessarily spread throughout the entire plane, a sick person who expels the virus into the air is likely to spray contaminated droplets on the people in the seats around them. 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. Texas Eagle Train 21 which departed Chicago (CHI) on 2/27, is currently being delayed in Taylor (TAY) due to law enforcement activity ahead. 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. Travel news, guides and tips for anyone looking to get away. Amtraks ridership hit an all-time record nationwide in 2019, then skidded by about 90% in April when cases of COVID-19 began soaring. Phone calls are preferred if the request is urgent. In fact, the whole room looked like what I would have expected to find in a first-class suite on an international flight back in the 1970s (if they made them this big). "Two of our new buses have an air purification, a U.V. He had the virus and infected 4 passengers. Still, Lofgren reminds us that we need to be vigilant about maintaining six feet of space. 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. A representative is available by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide information regarding railroad operating matters. Before the pandemic, many people would not think twice about ordering a ride-share car or hailing a taxi. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WMTW-TV. But those still wary of catching COVID-19 may wonder: Is taking a train safer? If the lawmakers see it Amtraks way, many more travelers may ride the rails for reasons other than COVID-19 concerns. Amtrak doesnt directly make that claim on its website. 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. Riding Amtrak's Northeast Regional service from New York to Boston. National Railroad Passenger Corporation. 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. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. So, whats holding back higher speeds across Michigan? Amtrak hopes this slower stretch of track, owned by MDOT since 2012, can be upgraded by the end of 2022. 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. 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. For the buses, ridership is down about 60% from pre-pandemic levels. 202 906.3860. Since then, that number has climbed north of 30% as the calendar moved closer to summer. The APTA report notes that on most systems subway cars and buses, new air replaces stale air almost 18 times an hour. Keeping the windows open and making sure the air system is set to take in outside air instead of recycling it should reduce the risk. 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. Amtrak, however, is limiting passenger capacity to roughly 50 percent (a percentage that varies depending on the quantity and size of groups traveling together) and has expanded cars and routes . Oh, look at that! Her voice sounded like she had just won the lottery. 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). Thanks for reading Scientific American. 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. 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