Amtrak Mask Mandate - Practical Discussion

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Amtrak George

Lead Service Attendant
Joined
May 10, 2011
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273
Location
Jackson, Tennessee
I wonder if the renewed rule will allow exceptions for passengers in sleeping cars with the door shut. I don't have a problem with wearing a mask when moving about the train etc., but if I have to keep the curtain shut when unmasked that would ruin the trip, especially if it is a long one (several days and nights)!

Moderator note: This discussion has been split off from this thread. Please use this thread for discussion on the practical aspects of Amtrak's mask mandate, such as enforcement and implementation on board, including first-hand experiences from on-board Amtrak.
 
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On the trip I just finished mask announcements on the Coast Starlight and Texas Eagle both made allowances for not wearing masks while "ACTIVELY" eating and drinking and while in your sleeper room with the door shut.

On the Empire Builder the sleeper room door shut allowance was not ever mentioned. (but we did it anyway)

Announcements said you would get two warning. The first to wear your mask and the second would be as you are being escorted off the train to awaiting local authorities.

Amtrak crews are very serious about this.
 
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TrackWalker said:
On the trip I just finished mask announcements on the Coast Starlight and Texas Eagle both made allowances for not wearing masks while "ACTIVELY" eating and drinking and while in your sleeper room with the door shut.

On the Empire Builder the sleeper room door shut allowance was not ever mentioned. (but we did it anyway)

Announcements said you would get two warning. The first to wear your mask and the second would be as you are being escorted off the train to awaiting local authorities.

Amtrak crews are very serious about this.
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Thanks....Good to know!
 
tim49424 said:
This is admirable indeed. I’ve seen many shields and am wondering how effective they are. If they are, would they help those with hearing difficulties? I’m sure they are safer than wearing no face covering at all.

Another question….I’m not remembering but are these acceptable for wearing on Amtrak? It seems to me the answer is no, but I’m too lazy tonight to do the research,
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Face shields are not acceptable as a face cover on Amtrak. I think they initially were when Amtrak first made the requirement, but that changed a while ago.
 
Ryan said:
They're also about as effective as a screen door on a submarine. There's a reason that they're not an acceptable face cover.
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I’m not at all surprised by that but I’d not known anyone personally who used one, that’s why I asked about their effectiveness. They sorta remind me of welding helmets strangely enough. I see them mostly being worn by employees at the grocery store where I shop, including about half a dozen today.
 
tim49424 said:
I’m not at all surprised by that but I’d not known anyone personally who used one, that’s why I asked about their effectiveness. They sorta remind me of welding helmets strangely enough. I see them mostly being worn by employees at the grocery store where I shop, including about half a dozen today.
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I have used a face shield, but only as it was intended: as a splash guard against body fluids. I wore them when I worked in a clinical lab.
 
Barb Stout said:
I have used a face shield, but only as it was intended: as a splash guard against body fluids. I wore them when I worked in a clinical lab.
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We were given face shields that we could wear WITH masks while teaching labs (because it's extra hard to distance in lab. It made me so much more claustrophobic than the mask alone did that I only wore it once or twice. I wear glasses anyway so I figured my eyes had some degree of protection. Now I'm fully vaccinated so I don't worry, though I do still abide by my campus' mask mandate (and will in the fall if they still think it's necessary in the fall. We have low rates of vaccine uptake in my region so we might have to)
 
Do the crew wear their masks when making announcements? Since they sound like the old fashioned drive-in speakers without the masks, I can't imagine what they sound like to us HoH with the masks.

"What did they say?"

"Something about arriving in Philadelphia in 15 minutes or was it that the train is on fire and everyone who doesn't leave the back 3 cars immediately is going to die?"
 
I have face shields for the family, that we have never used for the reasons mentioned here. If we do, it will be in addition to a mask. The face shields might provide additional eye protection, which so far, has not been necessary.
 
My brother wears a face shield on most occasions wear I wear a mask. No one has ever told him it does not qualify nor have they told him he needs a mask. This goes for his employer and the number of places he delivers to as well as the places where he shops.

It is true, we have not been on Amtrak and are not planning to anytime soon ...
 
lonewolfette9847 said:
My understanding from Amtrak is that the mask must cover nose, chin, & lay flat against the cheeks. Unfortunately that means neck gaiters & bandannas are also not allowed
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My neck gaiters fit that description, BUT, neck gaiters have to made multilayered to provide protection. When I wear mine and am going to be near others I fold up some from the neck which creates 3 layers.
 
tricia said:
From a ticket issued today, for travel in July: "Neck gaiters, open-chin triangle bandanas, face shields and masks containing valves, mesh material or holes of any kind do not qualify as acceptable face coverings."
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That’s pretty much the same wording I’ve seen at Disney Parks. Not sure why the neck gaiters don’t qualify but I’m not an expert on any of this! Ha.
 
I've got an upcoming cross-country trip on Amtrak in June, in sleeper the whole way.

I'd hope that the mask mandate is relaxed for when you're in your sleeping compartment with the door shut, and am curious what others report.

It makes sense to have it in place when moving about the train. I'm vaccinated already, but I don't mind wearing a mask in order to make others feel safer. I've been using a gaiter recently because its more convenient, but I guess that's a no-go for the trip.

With the pandemic still on, I'm planning on staying in my sleeper most of the time anyway.
 
Despite lack of official clarity about the rule, I don't think anyone has reported a problem on this forum with no mask while in a private room with the door closed. If I am wrong, please update, it seems to get questioned repeatedly.
 
dcipjr said:
I'd hope that the mask mandate is relaxed for when you're in your sleeping compartment with the door shut, and am curious what others report.
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On my last two I didn't have mine on in the room. On the first one the OBS knew for sure, second one I think they knew as well. No problems (The OBS on the Chief also was a double-masker :D)
 

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