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. For decades, improvements crept at the pace of a freight train inching through a switchyard. It turned out to be a rough night, full of rattles and rumbles. 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. AND YOU KNOW EVEN ALMOST MINUTE BY MINUTE. Khabbaza recommends train travelers book a private roomette or bedroom if they can afford to and if they are available. For 50 years, Amtrak has connected America and transformed transportation by modernizing train travel, and building for the future. At most, it cuts transmission substantially. He recommends only removing your mask to eat or drink. Passenger train operator Amtrak claims to cycle air through cabins 44 times an hour. Over the past few months, Ive taken four trains over three Amtrak routes, Wunderman told me. Since then, ridership crept partway back to its. Thanks for reading Scientific American. In addition to snagging window seats, bus riders should look for the same safety features they would on a subway: a mask requirement, good ventilation and adequate spacing between passengers. The truth is that few of us are wearing masks with strong enough filters to reliably screen viruses out of the air. In fact, a recent MIT study found the risk of being exposed to the coronavirus could be as great whether a person is 6 feet or 60 feet away if the air is mixed. With COVID-19 reaching the most dangerous levels the U.S. has seen since the pandemic began, the country faces a problematic holiday season. (DR BOB ZOOM) 18:02 FUNDAMENTALLY YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE CLEAN OUTDOOR AIR, INDOORS. 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. 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. Some Maine schools, like in Gorham, have used federal relief bill money to install upgrade their ventilation systems. Sometimes, doing all this extra work makes me feel paranoid, and I almost didnt do it this time. At the same time, the rail service announced that it would begin strictly monitoring where passengers sit and how many board each car. Since 2012, theyve rolled as fast as 110 mph there. So, whats holding back higher speeds across Michigan? 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. App users will also receive boarding gate and track information at select stations so they can head directly to their train. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Federal law says freight trains must yield to passenger trains when both want to use the same track. 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. Additionally, Amtrak now shows the capacity of its trains online as people shop for tickets, which may help customers choose emptier options. Those with medical conditions who cannot wear masks must wear a face shield as a substitute. There seemed to be less risk of transmission, however, for people who were seated near windows and doors that could open. Increased Amtrak Police Department presence in stations and onboard trains to help enforce the federal transportation mask mandate. 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. 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. 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. Why a Daily Dose of Awe Might Be the New Prozac, What 35-Year-Olds Should Know About Perimenopause. Walking through the rows of roomettes, it appeared that people were taking advantage of a loophole in the mask rule they were maskless while in their rooms as required, but their doors were wide open. 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 . And keeping conversation to a minimum could also reduce the danger because talking is known to release aerosols that can spread the virus. It was WWII. One such investigation of a 10-hour journey from London to Hanoi starting on March 1 found that 15 people were likely infected with COVID-19 in-flightand that 12 of them had sat within a couple of rows of a single symptomatic passenger in business class. PEOPLE MOVE AROUND. "It's not to measure whether you have too much carbon dioxide as any kind of a toxin," Dr. Arnot said. She noticed more thorough sanitation on her Portland-to-Chicago route, and less mask enforcement from Chicago to Boston. Also, Magliari said: We have significantly more spacing (than airlines and buses) between our seats. MediaRelations@Amtrak.com 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. You dont want to get sick just because someone was unwilling to choose a different seat. Or, get someone sick if you're a carrier. 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.. Riding Amtrak's Northeast Regional service from New York to Boston. We reached my room and I was immediately impressed. This left a total of five dining tables open (all of which must be reserved for a specific time in advance). "I think Maine is very well positioned," Quinn said. SHARON, Vt. (AP) The driver of a tractor-trailer that was hit by an Amtrak train on Monday has been . COVID-19 has fast-tracked many innovations already in the works. Continue reading with a Scientific American subscription. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WMTW-TV. During the COVID-19 pandemic, local train travel dipped from 8,000 passengers a day to 200. In contrast, Amtrak conductors were very strict about keeping everyone socially distanced. Silverman called her trip a relaxing way to travel.. AMTRAK Covid-19 Practices Puts Passengers and Workers at Risk News provided by. For the buses, ridership is down about 60% from pre-pandemic levels. 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. 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. Gina Suh, head of the Mayo Clinics travel clinic, says train travel isnt too dissimilar from air travel. Anyone needing or choosing to wear one is encouraged to do so. 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. 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 . Then, in 2009, Amtrak installed a new high-tech safety system on 97 miles of track it owns in western Michigan reaching into Indiana. The folding lounge bench and viewing seat were made of a fabric similar to what youd find on an airplane. Places like Washington State have already mandated live CO2 readings for restaurants, as a way to try to mitigate the virus risk. We were off. 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. 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. "Two of our new buses have an air purification, a U.V. (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. 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. 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. Jan. 14, 2022. Amtraks ridership hit an all-time record nationwide in 2019, then skidded by about 90% in April when cases of COVID-19 began soaring. For those who cant get a private room, Khabbaza recommended accessing fresh air for improved ventilation, even though Amtrak says all of its trains have onboard filtration systems with a fresh air exchange rate every four to five minutes. Despite the setback of the pandemic, riders can climb aboard not only what Amtrak touts as a safer mode of travel, but also one thats improving. 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. 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. Public transit systems have also been focusing on the ventilation component. "Cambridge University says it is the best overall indicator of whether or not you have fresh air in that room or not.". Is train travel a safer option this holiday? Flynn asked for a predictable and long-term source of federal funding to continue modernizing the system. 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. 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.). 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. 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. Silverman is a travel agent, operating a Cruise Planners franchise from her home. 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. They even had a decent selection of vegetarian and gluten-free options. 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. Explore our digital archive back to 1845, including articles by more than 150 Nobel Prize winners. "Maine is known as an outdoors place, as a fresh air place, as a natural place.". "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 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law enacted by the Biden Administration and Congress is a historic investment that will benefit customers and communities and prove that Amtrak is an important part of a larger solution to help America tackle the climate crisis, create economic opportunity and expand mobility.. 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. While driving and flying are the most popular travel options, where does taking a train fit into pandemic travel? 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. I had 29 and a half hours to go. Feb. 28, 2023, at 5:33 p.m. Tractor-Trailer Driver Ticketed in Collision With Train. There was also a metal utility sink, molded plastic wall, and an airplane-sized bathroom with a handheld shower nozzle over the toilet. But even with fresh air available, an infected passenger can still transmit the coronavirus to someone who. 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. That includes contactless boarding, enhanced disinfection through a partnership. 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. Texas Eagle Train 21 which departed Chicago (CHI) on 2/27, is currently being delayed in Taylor (TAY) due to law enforcement activity ahead. Before the pandemic, many people would not think twice about ordering a ride-share car or hailing a taxi. Thats far less risky than the indoor settings of airport security lines and waiting areas where passengers gather and sit before boarding. 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. And, the company's 18,000 employees are required to be vaccinated or submit to weekly testing, effective Nov. 1. Here's how to get better air flow at home, in schools and offices even in gyms to stave off COVID. An alternative option for passengers in the coach class is to choose seats near train doors that open during stops. 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. Many of the cities in question required commuters to wear masks. Among . Usted puede o no saber si algn miembro de su hogar o una persona que visita su casa tiene COVID-19 u otros virus respiratorios. And be sure to wash your hands after boarding (Amtrak bathrooms are equipped with soap and running water). DOI: 10.1186 . (Air travel was also down by 96 percent). More. On Jan. 25, a test train with no passengers pulled new coaches from Chicago to Pontiac, then back again to Chicago on Jan. 26. Offers may be subject to change without notice. "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. Its all about how many people you come in contact with during your journey. "Two of our new buses have an air purification, a U.V. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. It wasnt. (FILE CHIP UP) SOME SCHOOLS -- LIKE IN GORHAM -- HAVE USED CARES ACT MONEY TO INSTALL THE C-0-2 SENSORS (CG: HEATHER PERRY, GORHAM SCHOOLS) 01:26 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." One unexpected highlight of my train trip was the food both tasty and filling. If the tests go well, METRO may add the purification to the rest of the fleet. Trains also are safer than planes, in part, because many train stations have open-air platforms where travelers board, Dr. Aaron Rossi told USA Today in October. 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. While the view itself wasnt breathtaking, I found myself holding my breath. Every other table had a sign on it, instructing passengers to leave the booth empty in order to maintain social distancing. This is why its crucial that you put another layer of protection between you and everyone else on the train. Una buena ventilacin, . Those improvements allowed all Amtrak trains in that stretch to bump up their speeds. It is worth noting that masks are not mandatory in the dining car when seated for meals, nor are passengers required to wear masks elsewhere while they are eating or drinking. Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada took major hits in the two years since COVID-19 pushed much of the world into lockdown mode. Book travel, check train status, access your eTicket and more through theAmtrak app. 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. "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. 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