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. Despite the risk, many people are likely to travel using various forms of transportation that will inevitably put them in relatively close contact with others. Shorter ridesespecially those under roughly 15 minutespose a lower risk than long ones. Yet, Amtrak mandated masks for all passengers and employees beginning last spring. Private Rooms Inside Ground Zero of the Coronavirus Pandemic, Oprah On COVID-19's Deadly Impact on Black America, The Governors Helping Americans Survive COVID. While there are certainly ways to heed caution by rail, If you can drive, drive," Lofgren says. Continue reading with a Scientific American subscription. Media members should contact the Media Relations Office for their region (see the map and listings here). (Air travel was also down by 96 percent). 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. Passport wait times are up again. And while safety and sanitization were largely prioritized no matter which train I rode, the experience wasnt uniform. 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. 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. UPDATE: Train 178 is back on the move and currently operating approx. Theres not enough data on either to say which is safer, but the same risk factors are at play. While many parts of my experience failed to meet my expectations, there were others that exceeded them. Jan. 14, 2022. At the same time, the rail service announced that it would begin strictly monitoring where passengers sit and how many board each car. "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. Youre in car 31 thats my car! 8 Supporting data . All of those situations increase your risk of coming into contact with the virus and picking it up. 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. Passenger train operator Amtrak claims to cycle air through cabins 44 times an hour. COVID-19 Innovative Adaptations As COVID-19 has greatly impacted the transportation industry, Amtrak has had to make some innovative adaptations. "It's not to measure whether you have too much carbon dioxide as any kind of a toxin," Dr. Arnot said. Silverman is a travel agent, operating a Cruise Planners franchise from her home. About five years ago, with ridership rising after the Great Recession ended, Amtrak launched a long-awaited modernization effort. If you have a FOIA request, please clickhere. 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. Companies have also implemented rigorous cleaning procedures between flights. (Amtrak declined to answer my inquiries on whether or not this violated their mask policy, but they did say that refusing to wear a mask in a public space will result in prompt removal from the train.). 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. 202 906.3860. However, this was not the case on my train. Written by David Peter Alan , Contributing Editor. AND WHERE COULD YOU POSSIBLY HAVE BETTER AIR THAN THE STATE OF MAINE -- YOU OUGHT TO BE SELLING IT (LAUGHS) 18:13 (BOTTARI LL TAG) WHILE I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH MAINE AIR WOULD SELL FOR, I DO KNOW, THOSE CO2 METERS COST ABOUT 100 DOLLARS FOR A HANDHELD ONE. It has installed signs to encourage social distancing in high-traffic areas, such as the stations and cafe cars, where it has also put up plastic barriers at the customer counters. Amtrak has canceled about two dozen trains, blaming bad weather and COVID-19 cases among workers. 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. I was excited. 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. Then, in 2009, Amtrak installed a new high-tech safety system on 97 miles of track it owns in western Michigan reaching into Indiana. An airplane cabin is probably one of the most secure conditions you can be in, says Sebastian Hoehl of the Institute for Medical Virology at Goethe University Frankfurt in Germany, who has co-authored two papers on COVID-19 transmission on specific flights, which were published in JAMA Network Open and the New England Journal of Medicine, respectfully. At the very least, it does no harm to wear a mask. "Maine is known as an outdoors place, as a fresh air place, as a natural place. Solo passengers can use the empty seats next to them for personal belongings. 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. This time, I was in one of the private bedrooms located on the second floor of the trains two-bedroom sleeper cars. Hi, there, she said before getting surprisingly excited. For more stories like this, sign up for our newsletter. 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. Gina Suh, head of the Mayo Clinics travel clinic, says train travel isnt too dissimilar from air travel. "It's not to measure whether you have too much carbon dioxide as any kind of a toxin," Dr. Arnot said. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Those with medical conditions who cannot wear masks must wear a face shield as a substitute. Follow her on Twitter @unamandita, Rob Jackson, Corinne Le Qur, Pep Canadell, Pierre Friedlingstein and Glen Peters | Opinion. Schools have been some of the first places to take a hard look at their ventilation. However, too often, freight operators ignore the rule, according to Amtrak. This article was published more than2 years ago. More. 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. 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. YOU CAN FI, With mask mandates and capacity limits lifting in Maine on May 24, some experts are warning we need to take a closer look at something they feel has been overlooked in this pandemic: the quality of the air we are sharing inside. We reached my room and I was immediately impressed. Increased Amtrak Police Department presence in stations and onboard trains to help enforce the federal transportation mask mandate. But now the idea of being in such an enclosed space with a stranger can seem like a life-and-death proposition. Another safety factor? In addition, in a city system (as opposed to a long-distance ride), buses make frequent stops. Space: Do you have any personal space, do you have enough distance between you and others? 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.. 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. Nights, Holidays & Weekends: (800) 562-1904. Amtrak was created by the Congress in 1971 when the nations existing railroads said theyd no longer carry passengers. 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. 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. Id spent the day watching the outside world flicker by like a silent film, a few minutes at a time. Amtrak. Thats far less risky than the indoor settings of airport security lines and waiting areas where passengers gather and sit before boarding. "We have been waylaid by the CDC with 'wash all this stuff,'" Dr. Arnot said. Finally, experts suggest that limiting the length of a ride can also be helpful: 15 minutes on a subway is safer than a multihour train trip. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. "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." Wearing a mask also probably helps, and ride-share companies Uber and Lyft both require drivers and passengers to do so. They were very serious about having people wear masks. Greater Portland METRO has installed high-tech purification systems onboard their new buses. Feb 28, 2023 (CDN Newswire via Comtex) -- The Global Ventilation Devices Market study has been announced by MarketQuest.biz for 2023-2029. Over the past few months, Ive taken four trains over three Amtrak routes, Wunderman told me. 01:32 (LOSE FILE CHIP) IT'S NOT JUST BUILDINGS -- PUBLIC TRANSIT LIKE AMTRAK HAS BEEN LOOKING AT AIR QUALITY TOO. 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. 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. National Railroad Passenger Corporation. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. If the lawmakers see it Amtraks way, many more travelers may ride the rails for reasons other than COVID-19 concerns. Our editors handpick the products that we feature. 3hr 15min late into Wilmington (WIL) due to earlier police activity and rail congestion. The need to extend safety systems and upgrade more track, officials said. This is why its crucial that you put another layer of protection between you and everyone else on the train. 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. We have new procedures that ask people to stay seated and listen for directions for on how to detrain, says Kuhnen. Some drivers have even installed a plastic shield between the front and back seats. So, whats holding back higher speeds across Michigan? AND YOU KNOW EVEN ALMOST MINUTE BY MINUTE. Suddenly, taking an overnight train from Portland to Los Angeles felt like an adventure. 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. "Two of our new buses have an air purification, a U.V. But later reviews of the evidence suggest mass transit systems have not been major drivers of viral spread. In Vermont, Dr. Arnot advised some of the local school districts on how to improve their air quality. When that happens, Amtrak could reach its potential to consistently outshine the experience of driving a car from Detroit to Chicago with lower costs, less time and more convenience not to mention no fear of getting a dreaded three-figure parking ticket in Chicagoland. Even worse, on the popular route from Chicago to Detroit to Pontiac, on-time performance occurred just 33% of the time. Offers may be subject to change without notice. And read coverage from our international network of magazines here. All of that may, literally, require an act of Congress. 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. They announced several times, you must wear the mask over your nose and mouth or we can kick you off, she said. HE SAYS -- WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE AIR QUALITY OF THE SPACES WE'RE WALKING INTO. "And that has really been something that I think has given people a sense of comfort.". Though it was a shared space . Explore our digital archive back to 1845, including articles by more than 150 Nobel Prize winners. More information: Michael John Patton et al, COVID-19 bacteremic co-infection is a major risk factor for mortality, ICU admission, and mechanical ventilation, Critical Care (2023). For 50 years, Amtrak has connected America and transformed transportation by modernizing train travel, and building for the future. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Since 2012, theyve rolled as fast as 110 mph there. Katherine Alex Beaven is a Los Angeles-based travel, food and drink, and culture writer. Preliminary results for fiscal year 2021 (Oct. 2020 Sept. 2021) include: Amtrak highlights in fiscal year 2021 include: Amtrak Contact It found no correlation between mass transit use and transmission of the virus. A traveler tested negative for covid-19 before a flight. COVID-19 risk calculator: The safest and most dangerous things to do this holiday season; Updated number of COVID-19 deaths, cases in Bay Area; COVID-19 Help: Comprehensive list of resources . 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