Offers may be subject to change without notice. If youre taking a substantial trip, you will want to protect yourself with travel insurance even if you have never been inclined to before. @ [ \ ] ^ _ ` < | > ~. This expansion also marks the first time customers can reserve a seat in the Quiet Car. Safety features still include mandatory mask-wearing, plexiglass partitions at ticket. Amtrak is suspending its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employees and now doesn't anticipate needing to slash service next year, the transit agency announced Tuesday. ! " At the time, it also limited bookings, switched to cashless onboard payments, and promoted physical distancing on trains. terms and conditions Please enable cookies on your browser and try again. 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. For more information, follow Amtrak on social media, sign up for Amtrak Guest Rewards. Offers may be subject to change without notice. News Airlines United Airlines Amtrak Joe Biden. To keep station crowds to a minimum, Amtrak is also urging passengers not to arrive too far in advance. Your password must be at least 8 characters long, include at least 1 alpha character, and include at least 1 number or special character (- ? WASHINGTON - Amtrak is setting a new standard of travel with enhanced safety and cleaning measures. Add an ID tag to all your bags. However, this was not the case on my train. Customers should not travel when experiencing COVID-19 symptoms . 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. Other resources are available for conducting that research, including the State Department and CDC websites or the travel-organizing app TripIt which allows users to learn about coronavirus infection rates, entry and exit rules, and other guidelines. @ [ \ ] ^ _ ` < | > ~. and The only reason I needed to leave my roomette was to use the restroom, a regularly cleaned compartment about the size of an airplane bathroom at the end of the hall. By signing in to your account you acknowledge you have read and agree to the updated terms and conditions, including the binding arbitration agreement. 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 . WASHINGTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - 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. Airports That Require (or Don't Require) Masks, These Airlines No Longer Require Masks on Flights, Uber, Lyft Drop Mask Requirement for Both Riders and Drivers What to Know, TSA Extends Mask Mandate for Planes, Airports Until April 18, A Country-by-country Guide to COVID-19 Entry Requirements in Europe, Masks Will Be Required on Planes, Trains, and in Airports Until at Least January 2022, TSA Just Doubled Fines for Passengers Who Refuse to Mask up on Planes, 12 Tips for Flying in a Pandemic, According to TSA Directors, Department of Justice to Appeal the Mask Mandate Cancellation What to Know, Canada to Drop All COVID-19 Travel Restrictions on Oct. 1 What to Know, These National Parks Have Reinstated Mask Mandates, Face Masks May No Longer Be Required on European Airlines What to Know, CDC Extends Mask Mandate for Planes, Trains Another 2 Weeks, Good News From Around the World to Make You Smile During Quarantine. The agency also suggests self-quarantining for seven days when you get home, even if your test is negative. Every ride counts as an Amtrak Guest Rewards member. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. The funding is pending President Biden's signature on the final bill. Hi, there, she said before getting surprisingly excited. An Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train at Moorpark Station in California. One unexpected highlight of my train trip was the food both tasty and filling. Please enter a password. When searching for travel online or on the Amtrak app, the percentage of seats sold displays next to each trip option. When we venture out again, travel will not look the same as it did in 2019. 2 . SEATTLE (AP) In another hopeful sign that the travel industry is bouncing back in Washington state after pandemic-induced lows last year, Amtrak says it will restore daily service on 12 long distance routes across the country, including two that run through Seattle. ), Nine other long-distance trains are reduced to operating five days a week, instead of daily. It was our very first time on any Amtrak train. I also bring my own pillow. Passwords are case sensitive. One such innovation is the expansion of reserved seating on Acela trains. Review the policy for unaccompanied minors. 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. COVID-19 has fast-tracked many innovations already in the works. Making Reservations for Passengers with a Disability, Meal Service for Passengers with a Disability, Mechanical Bulletins for Private Rail Cars. Onboard dining service is largely back to pre-pandemic practices. But even though nearly 100 million Americans have had at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine, we are not out of the woods yet. Once youre done getting your vaccine shot(s), protect that fragile document like a Faberg egg. By signing in to your account you acknowledge you have read and agree to the updated terms and conditions, including the binding arbitration agreement. Tickets Charge your electronic devices and get them ready to show your eTicket to the conductor or station personnel. Passengers must remain masked unless in a private room (available on long-distance routes) or actively eating or drinking while maintaining appropriate distance from other passengers. 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. 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. 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. Every ride counts as an Amtrak Guest Rewards member. Sept 21 (Reuters) - U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak said on Tuesday it will require nearly all of its 18,000 employees be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by Nov. 22. Please be prepared to show valid photo identification to a member of the onboard crew upon request. Please enter a valid station, city, or address. While the view itself wasnt breathtaking, I found myself holding my breath. WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg today announced that the Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is making more than $1.69 billion available to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) to provide relief from the impacts of COVID-19 to the company's business operations, workforce, and state funding partners. Passwords are case sensitive. Customers can book, board, check train status and access information from the convenience and safety of a mobile device. Please enter a password. "Try to travel in a car with . By clicking Join, you acknowledge you have read and agree to the program terms, including the binding arbitration agreement, in the Earn points toward reward travel, upgrades and more. National Railroad Passenger Corporation, https://www.amtrak.com/content/amtrak/en-us/planning-booking/planning-booking-tips/riding-on-amtrak-train-for-the-first-time. COVID-19 Prevention Actions. Wear shoes at all times and use caution when wearing shoes without rubber soles. And while safety and sanitization were largely prioritized no matter which train I rode, the experience wasnt uniform. 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 . I grabbed a cup of freshly brewed coffee, and put in my order for lunch. Not only are those places riskier for both visitors and locals, Moyse says, they are also likely to have more restrictions. That answer wasnt correct either. For TTY service, call 1-800-523-6590. Passengers who want quiet choose the quiet car. Use seat backs and handrails while walking through the train. Passwords are case sensitive. Notify staff of the presence of a COVID-19 case and/or outbreak in the facility based on facility policy and procedure 6. This time, I was in one of the private bedrooms located on the second floor of the trains two-bedroom sleeper cars. Riding Amtrak for the first time? Vaccine passports are on the way, but developing them wont be easy. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website.. "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. And again, plan to arrivewearing a mask: Passengers are required to wear facial coverings both at the station and onboard unless they are in a private room with the door closed or actively eating and drinking while maintaining distance from others. In short: people want different options for travel, and Amtrak threads the needle, accommodating varying needs. _ @ " $ # ,). Seating Accommodations again. 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. Amtrak has undertaken heightened security measures for the benefit of our customers. However, the room was almost remarkably dated nostalgic even. Listen to article. 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. Sarah Elizabeth Adler joined aarp.org as a writer in 2018. Amtrak began selling all seats on its trains in May after limiting capacity at half for most of the pandemic. After locking the door behind me and closing the privacy curtain, I immediately took out my tub of Clorox wipes. 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. Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst at Atmosphere Research Group, says travelers should check with their insurance company (if you have insurance) to find out what will be covered by their policy, then supplement what is missing through travel insurance. Dont laminate the original, as you may need to document future booster shots on it. Weve sent you an email with instructions to reset your password instead. Enter the email address or member number associated with your account. we do know they will be important for travel. Pack a face mask and a backup. COVID-19, and more than 1,600 of those workers have died. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription toAARP The Magazine. 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. 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. Although its already twice the size of a roomette, the bedroom cabins are much more spacious than they appear online. Lena H. Sun and Lori Aratani contributed to this report. 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. / : ; < = > ? / : ; < = > ? 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. Oops, that answer wasn't quite right. Let's try a different question. To prepare for your post-vaccination travels, we compiled this checklist to help you get squared away before you go. Some stations require more time. I observed room attendants entering the private rooms of passengers who were not wearing masks. Every other table had a sign on it, instructing passengers to leave the booth empty in order to maintain social distancing. Suddenly, taking an overnight train from Portland to Los Angeles felt like an adventure. Check where you can go and what you can do there, 3. Rachel Chang is a travel and pop culture journalist who contributes to Travel + Leisure, Cond Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, and more. The pandemic after the pandemic: Long covid haunts millions of people. Oops, that answer wasn't quite right. Enter a valid Guest Rewards number or email address. ! " # $ % & ' ( ) * + , - . William J. Flynn took over as CEO of Amtrak at the worst possible . If capacity exceeds comfort levels, customers can change their ticket without incurring a fee (a fare difference may apply). For More Information Jason Abrams MediaRelations@Amtrak.com Amtrak Contact 202 906.3860 About Amtrak 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. When searching for travel, customers will see the percentage of seats sold next to each route as customers make reservations. Amtrak continues to evaluate current practices and launch new initiatives to support personal safety. Oops, that answer wasn't quite right. Amtrak restores service on routes following COVID cutbacks. Earn points toward reward travel, upgrades and more. 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. 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. terms and conditions Review restriction information by looking up your destinations local government websites. Her pieces on science, art and culture have appeared inThe Atlantic, where she was previously an editorial fellow,Californiamagazine and elsewhere. An email with password reset instructions is on the way. Every ride counts as an Amtrak Guest Rewards member.