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

[jis]

Of relevance to Amtrak riding members in AU...

Philippe in LA, a favorite haunt of many AU Members closes for the first time in 100 years due to Corona Virus

https://www.dailynews.com/2020/03/1...YyXMCdtEU-WuScnoF3Z_hpAeCTMEP7_7lSH6SQwCyY2Qo

 

[Bob Dylan]

Of relevance to Amtrak riding members in AU...

Philippe in LA, a favorite haunt of many AU Members closes for the first time in 100 years due to Corona Virus

https://www.dailynews.com/2020/03/1...YyXMCdtEU-WuScnoF3Z_hpAeCTMEP7_7lSH6SQwCyY2Qo

No to go or Curb side Service???

And what about the joints in Union Station including the New Pub and Big Bucks Coffee?

 

[RickIronton]

I just don't understand why Amtrak has not drastically reduced fares considering the virus?

 

[Seaboard92]

I see what Crescent Zephyr says. I too am dreaming of future trips. However my next one won’t be on Amtrak.

Being pent up line we are just makes a person want to travel.

 

[RichieRich]

Under the circumstances, going on Amtrak for non-essential travel is just unfathomable to me.

I hear'ya. Canceled the April AT trip today. Called my AGR number, mentioned the high-risk group and virus... had absolutely NO problem receiving both a full charge-card credit AND reinstatement of points.

 

[Rail Freak]

I just don't understand why Amtrak has not drastically reduced fares considering the virus?

It would defeat the purpose of what we're trying to do??? Social Distance. This could get to the point,where the US will see just how important the Rails Truly Are

 

[TinCan782]

No to go or Curb side Service???

And what about the joints in Union Station including the New Pub and Big Bucks Coffee?

Posted this link earlier ...
"Traxx restaurant and bar, Imperial Western Beer Company, Café Crepe and Starbucks are temporarily closed. Other food service and amenities have limited hours of operation."
https://www.unionstationla.com/happenings/union-station-events-postponed

 

[Suze10860]

I just don't understand why Amtrak has not drastically reduced fares considering the virus?

It would defeat the purpose of what we're trying to do??? Social Distance. This could get to the point,where the US will see just how important the Rails Truly Are

I guess what I don't understand is why they aren't reducing fares for travel 4-6 months from now. Honestly, I would be much more likely to plan ahead a book a trip this coming summer if I could do it right now at a good price. As it is, the prices still seem quite high.

And considering I had to cancel my much anticipated trip in early April, I really do want to book something - either the same trip or something different. But again, the fares now showing are not enticing me to do so.

Granted, I'm not a "business" person (I'm in education) but I would think it would be easier to get people to re-book if they were offering lower prices. But what do I know.

 

[PVD]

Nobody really knows what the timeline will be, or if specific areas will still be hot spots. Why kick the can down the road.

 

[chakk]

I just don't understand why Amtrak has not drastically reduced fares considering the virus?

American Airlines is doing just that -- $32 one-way from LAX to DEN this week on many of their flights.

 

[brianpmcdonnell17]

The currently scheduled end of the cancellations period varies greatly depending on region. The NER and Acela are only reduced through March 29th as of now on the app, whereas Midwest train cancellations extend through the end of May.

 

[jiml]

Kinda related to the liquor stores staying open, I've read that a number of liquor distilleries are producing high-proof "hand cleaner". Not sure if they're allowed to call it "hand sanitizer" yet, but it's at least the CDC-recommended 60% alcohol for disinfecting hands (and often a higher alcohol percentange). And in many cases, it's being distributed for free by the distilleries.

Labatt's breweries has just announced the switchover of an entire production line to produce hand sanitizer.

 

[Samsbigtrip]

Unfortunately, several LD trains have been running out of Toilet Paper because passengers are stealing it. Also issues with toilets clogging because of the prevalent use of bacterial wipes by passengers who then proceed to flush them down the toilet....

Why? Why? Why do people do that? It's so disheartening to think of our fellow humans being so stupid and so selfish :-(

 

[MccfamschoolMom]

Why? Why? Why do people do that? It's so disheartening to think of our fellow humans being so stupid and so selfish :-(

I'm assuming it's a combination of ignorance and laziness. If the sleeping car attendants & conductors were to post signs right next to each toilet warning people NOT to flush disinfecting wipes down the toilets, would the wipe-flushers actually obey the signs, or ignore them?

 

[peteypablo]

My entire state is ordered to stay home -- no going outside except to access food, supplies, health care, walk the dog or exercise (individually). Fortunately, liquor stores are open, they are deemed to provide an essential service. This is until April 7th (at least).

Although not every state has implemented this, I assume this is for the national good, not just for the good of our state.

Under the circumstances, going on Amtrak for non-essential travel is just unfathomable to me.

From talking to doctors preparing for the virus to spread, I gather that the most important reason to keep liquor stores open is to avoid filling hospitals with alcohol addicts in withdrawal. We have to do what we have to do.

 

[SarahZ]

From talking to doctors preparing for the virus to spread, I gather that the most important reason to keep liquor stores open is to avoid filling hospitals with alcohol addicts in withdrawal. We have to do what we have to do.

That, and many liquor stores in big cities also sell groceries.

 

[PaulDobbs]

Just cancelled a Fort Worth-LA-Portland-Chicago-Fort Worth trip that I have had tickets for since December. The agent asked my reason, and I said I was 75, had diabetes and COPD, and it didn't seem like a good time for a pleasure trip. I got full refunds of both points and dollars (to my credit card).

 

[Rasputin]

I have recently watched Nos. 3 and 4 on the Flagstaff station webcam and this is what I could see:

No. 3 - March 22
Coach- 13 passengers off, 6 on
Sleeper - 5 off, 1 on

No. 4 - March 23
Coach - 6 off, 2 on
Sleeper - None off or on

Some passengers may get off only for a smoke break or to get some fresh air so they may have been counted twice and I may have missed others.

 

[Asher]

American Airlines is doing just that -- $32 one-way from LAX to DEN this week on many of their flights.

They're also about ready to go under, don't book unless it's straight thru, no telling where you'll end up.

 

[Seaboard92]

I'm assuming it's a combination of ignorance and laziness. If the sleeping car attendants & conductors were to post signs right next to each toilet warning people NOT to flush disinfecting wipes down the toilets, would the wipe-flushers actually obey the signs, or ignore them?

As someone who has posted these signs in train bathrooms I’m qualified to answer this. They just ignore the sign altogether. One time someone flushed the sign down the toilet. And this on a private car where the clientele are usually a bit more sophisticated and better educated on paper.

 

[Maglev]

I worked at a restaurant where we had to resort to cloth towels (which were IMPOSSIBLE to flush) because we could not keep people from flushing the paper towels. When I read a post about having wipes in the bathrooms on Amtrak, my first thought was that this meant trouble for Amtrak's very sensitive toilet systems.

 

[brianpmcdonnell17]

Today's EB leaving Chicago only had one sleeper each for Portland and Seattle, but coach capacity was still normal with one Seattle coach and two Portland coaches.

 

[Seaboard92]

Today's EB leaving Chicago only had one sleeper each for Portland and Seattle, but coach capacity was still normal with one Seattle coach and two Portland coaches.

The Portland train can never go under two coaches unless you add a conventional baggage car. This is due to the requirement to have ada seating in the lower level.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Unfortunately, several LD trains have been running out of Toilet Paper because passengers are stealing it. Also issues with toilets clogging because of the prevalent use of bacterial wipes by passengers who then proceed to flush them down the toilet....

Saw this on FB today. I think it was in a regional.

 

[Bex]

The currently scheduled end of the cancellations period varies greatly depending on region. The NER and Acela are only reduced through March 29th as of now on the app, whereas Midwest train cancellations extend through the end of May.

I just got a flurry of changed train messages today that go through May where I've been moved from the NER to trains like the Silver Meteor. So they may be adjusting day by day. (I'm sure I'll be cancelling all of these but right now I'm only WFH officially through the end of April). But I think the Acela is still only cancelled through 3/29 and after that it's something like 2x a day.