COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic: Amtrak-related Discussion

[user 14106]

It looks like the Winter Park Express, Maple Leaf and Adirondack are the next victims of the coronavirus as far as basically being completely cut. The Maple Leaf has been truncated to NYP - NFL and the Adirondack truncated to a NYP - ALB which basically just makes them regular Empire Service trains.

 

[junebug]

That is the real tricky part....how does one know they’re a carrier? We, as a society (in AU members cases, a train riding society) should consider everyone to be a carrier...let sensible paranoia prevail and stay away from those you speak of. For those who are in that aforementioned group, this is not the time to experience train travel.

Yeah, I bet a lot of us like me, are over 60. Even during regular times, traveling Amtrak doesn't feel very sanitary. I'm staying away for now, as much as I love train travel.

 

[tim49424]

Yeah, I bet a lot of us like me, are over 60. Even during regular times, traveling Amtrak doesn't feel very sanitary. I'm staying away for now, as much as I love train travel.

I'm not quite 60 yet, less than two years away, and it may be a while before I'm back on a train. I have tickets to go to Kansas City to watch a couple of ballgames, but they're not likely to be played, thus I'll cancel when they do.

 

[neroden]

In terms of service levels, the NEC has been hit again. No Keystone Service between NYP-PHL, only 1 Acela round trip between WAS-NYP and 1 round trip between BOS-NYP, and with multiple 2-hour gaps in service. The two trains that run exclusively between NYP-WAS have eliminated the cafe car.

The Winter Park Express has also ended.

https://www.amtrak.com/alert/nec-modified-schedule.html

It's not immediately obvious but this temporarily ends ALL service to Parkesburg and Coatesville, since SEPTA doesn't stop at those two stations. (The other stations skipped by the Keystone are served by SEPTA.)

The only other US stations to lose all service so far are those unique to the Adirondack, which tend to have extremely low ridership in the first place. (Well, and Winter Park, but the season was almost over anyway.)

With what's going on in Canada, I'm not surprised that the Maple Leaf and Adirondack border crossings have been cancelled. Via has cut the Canadian, the Ocean, the Jasper-Prince Rupert line, their half of the Maple Leaf, and over half of their corridor frequencies. GO has also cut Niagara train service though they're still running buses.

 

[neroden]

FWIW, we're staying at home now. Bitsy's in a high-risk group.

 

[wwchi]

haven't been on Amtrak for a bit either - we're driving between Chicago and St. Joe (and New Buffalo, MI)...I'm sure the conductors are noticing the absence of our regulars! :-(

 

[user 14106]

I am not that familiar with the Adirondack's route, but I'm assuming based on the cut back to Albany that there is no real way to feasibly serve the northern New York stops and turn the train without crossing the border or the ridership at those stations doesn't justify?

 

[jis]

With an engine at both ends, it could be run push pull to Plattsburgh if there was any riders to be had.

BTW US airlines are cutting down domestic schedules to 50%-60% in April and are actively planning for a contingency where they terminate all domestic service.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/16/cor...uJuVIvSo5kNnVtyLY2E0Mso_yFErmzB00Ba4tz8wpEhYg

 

[desertflyer]

Hello from a soon to be forced sheltered in place San Franciscan. I don't know if it is mentioned somewhere else in this thread, but Amtrak is doing full refunds on Saver Fares due to coronavirus, but only if you call them. Twitter support, the Amtrak website, and the app only give vouchers and not refunds. I called and had a full refund within 10 minutes.

Stay safe!

 

[StanJazz]

I had tickets to see the Cubs at Orioles on Apr 14 and Cubs at Nationals on Apr 17. Today Baseball delayed the start of the season until at least mid-May. Today I cancelled my Amtrak tickets for the Cardinal (Roomette) and the Northeast Corridor. I got a full refund to my credit card, even the Northeast Corridor trip which was non-refundable.

 

[user 6862]

Hello from a soon to be forced sheltered in place San Franciscan. I don't know if it is mentioned somewhere else in this thread, but Amtrak is doing full refunds on Saver Fares due to coronavirus, but only if you call them. Twitter support, the Amtrak website, and the app only give vouchers and not refunds. I called and had a full refund within 10 minutes.

Stay safe!

May I ask what number you called, or is there only a single number?

Thank you

 

[StanJazz]

You call the regular number 1-800-USA-RAIL and say agent.

 

[desertflyer]

May I ask what number you called, or is there only a single number?

Thank you

As StanJazz says above, I called the 1-800-USA-RAIL (800-945-2028) number. It was quite surprising that there was no wait to speak with an agent, and no pushback on getting a refund. Twitter support had previously refused a refund and were very slow to respond.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

May I ask what number you called, or is there only a single number?

Thank you

I would suggest whatever number you've called in the past, since you're overseas. Just make sure you talk to an agent.

 

[user 6862]

thank you

 

[user 14106]

I would suspect Amtrak’s direction now is to get some direction at the federal level from congress and the administration at what direction they’d like to see. They would likely want assurances of an additional operating subsidy to keep the trains rolling during this slump if the powers that be want Amtrak to keep operating.

 

[chakk]

It looks like the Winter Park Express, Maple Leaf and Adirondack are the next victims of the coronavirus as far as basically being completely cut. The Maple Leaf has been truncated to NYP - NFL and the Adirondack truncated to a NYP - ALB which basically just makes them regular Empire Service trains.

Winter Park Express terminated because the ski resort has closed down

 

[PRR 60]

Keystone service and Pennsylvanian suspended effective Wednesday. March 18.

Amtrak Advisory | Amtrak to Operate on Modified Schedules

 

[user 14106]

Amtrak is going to be asking for a $1 billion bailout package as part of any coronavirus stimulus/bailout deal. Some funds would go direct to the company some would go to state supported route partner agencies. It’s probably going to come down to either they pass this billion dollar bailout or we get a complete suspension of all rail service until the crises passes. Amtrak, U.S. state rail agencies need $1 billion after coronavirus outbreak

 

[Samsbigtrip]

trains or buses (should that be busses?)

'buses' is correct! But the more you wonder the worse it looks ;-)

 

[Samsbigtrip]

The worry that you become a carrier is real. If I was even indirectly exposed would probably not get around those who are immune compromised.

I have been 'socially distancing' for the past week (I'm in the UK, 71 years of age and healthy and haven't travelled anywhere recently) but, to my horror, my best friend who flew back from Spain last week was in the gym this morning. Are there no bounds to stupidity? <sigh> I won't be seeing her for a while!

 

[Samsbigtrip]

Flights have not been banned.

The US banned travel from Schengen area countries last week, with the ban since extended to cover the UK and Ireland from midnight 16 March. It will last for 30 days. :-(

 

[user 6862]

I would suggest whatever number you've called in the past, since you're overseas. Just make sure you talk to an agent.

We are still a bit chaotic at the moment ma'am, just trying to hurry our refund requests along.

 

[nti1094]

Just boarded San Joaquin 711 in Hanford, the first morning northbound, making a connection in Sacramento to the Zephyr. In the 30 something years I have been riding the San Joaquins, I have never seen this few passengers riding. It’s just me and a small handful of others. I have an entire Comet coach car to myself!

 

[Tirnipgreen]

Maybe NOW Amtrak will stop blocking passengers like sardines so that THEY (conductors) won't have to work so hard. I am not sure if The Carolinian ever had assigned seating south from Philadelphia, but we (passengers) were told to find our own seats in a specific car over the weekend. It was a refreshing change for me as the Crescent crews are always such power hoarders and have threatened me with expulsion for not sitting where I was assigned. I asked the Conductor on Saturday morning (Carolinian) if open seating was based on the pandemic...he said "No, I didn't know there was an issue with that"...! I was concerned that one (maybe two) cars were completely blocked off. One of the suggestions from the CDC is to "self-isolate"...the further away from another person you can get, the better off you will be. So why not open the cars if they are available...? As far as I know, cleaning crews are paid to clean the entire train, conductors are paid to monitor passengers on the ENTIRE train. Maybe this virus will make Amtrak reconsider their seating policy going forward.