Please enter a password. Somewhere after Santa Barbara, golden hour set in, and the tracks brought us nearly to the edge of cliffs running along the Pacific Ocean. But if youre returning to the United States from an international trip, you have to provide a negative test result or documentation of recovery regardless of your vaccination or antibody status. ! " ), Nine other long-distance trains are reduced to operating five days a week, instead of daily. Pack your vaccine card with your passport , then check if you need an actual vaccine passport, too, 4. At first, the feeling was confusing and almost unrecognizable, but then it hit me: For the first time in seven months, I wasnt just going somewhere I was traveling. A fare difference may apply for itinerary changes. Oops, that answer wasn't quite right. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. Add If capacity exceeds comfort levels, customers can change their ticket without incurring a change fee. Help children when boarding and leaving the train. Call the COVID-19 CareLine at 1-800-720-9616. Amtrak says the reductions should have minimal impact because ridership remains down by 25 percent, and the schedule changes coincide with a slower travel season. Employees are also required to wear masks at all times, unless in their private rooms. / : ; < = > ? It comes at a time when COVID-19 numbers are on the rise again and mask-wearing has been encouraged and even enforced again, with cities like Philadelphia reinstating its indoor mask mandate on Monday. When searching for travel, the percentage of seats sold displays next to each trip option and adjusts as more reservations are made, which gives customers the opportunity to book a train that is less crowded. The curtain of my cabin was closed, and not wanting me to miss the view, Linda hopped on our cars intercom to make an announcement. Tickets purchased onboard include a service fee built into the fare. That answer wasnt correct either. Cancellation fees still apply to fares that have cancellation fees. Check-in early to arrange for pre-boarding if you need extra time or assistance. 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Coronavirus and Travel: What You Should Know, Many restrictions ease with lower COVID-19 case numbers, What to Do if Your Flight Is Canceled or Delayed, How to keep your trip on track with bad weather and staff shortages disrupting travel, The Latest TSA Security Procedures During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Youll need a mask, and patience, when passing through airport screenings this winter. (For a low-key getaway nearby when there is less money on the line, travel insurance might not be warranted.). Amtrak has upgraded its technology, fleet, stations and processes to make travel as seamless and safe as possible. To find out if train travel is safe right now, we talked to experts and an Amtrak representative to find out risks to know when boarding during COVID. Enter a valid Guest Rewards number or email address. AARP Membership - LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. The sudden dropping of mask regulations on public transportation comes just weeks before the current mandate was set to expire on May 3. Pre-Departure Checklist Review this handy guide and make your trip as trouble-free as possible Baggage Policy & Service Pack or ship your luggage according to our baggage guidelines and make the most of our service. Customers can book, board, check train status and access information from the convenience and safety of a mobile device. Passwords are case sensitive, should be at least 10 characters long and should include 1 uppercase and 1 lowercase alpha character, 1 number and 1 special character. Linda and her boisterous charm bid me adieu, promising to return to show me around my new digs after she was able to meet, greet, and guide her other sleeping car passengers to their rooms. Amtrak passengers can now see how full their train will be upon booking amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Brown also says vaccine requirements to travel are nothing new. The national rail service has temporarily cut back operations due to staffing shortages fueled by the omicron variant. Amtrak has implemented many other innovations in part due to the pandemic, including gate & track push notifications sent to mobile devices and digital wallet payments made with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal. Per new CDC guidance, fully vaccinated domestic travelers (who have had their final shot for at least two weeks) do not need to get a coronavirus test before or after trips, and they do not need to self-quarantine after travel. As I approached the platform outside the sleeping car, I flashed my paperwork to a welcoming employee who managed to flash back a big smile, even with her face hidden behind a mask. During the 2019 fiscal year, Amtrak carried a record 32.5 million passengers; however, an Amtrak internal analysis in April showed a 95 percent drop in ridership because of the coronavirus. The number adjusts as additional seats are sold, which gives passengers the chance to switch to a train that is less crowded without a fee, although a fare difference may apply. The CDC recommends domestic and international travelers get a viral test one to three days before departure and three to five days after travel. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. Complete line list for Refusing to wear a mask may lead to fines, denied boarding, being removed from the train and being barred from future travel. Passwords are case sensitive. On pure reflex, I shot to the window to watch as we rode over the Willamette River. WASHINGTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak told a U.S. House of Representatives panel on Thursday it expects to be forced to temporarily cut some service in January because of. Amtrak to restore Pennsylvanian, Keystone train service on June 1 A growing wave of travel companies is making a stronger push for vaccinations. Please enable JavaScript on your browser and try again. Making Reservations for Passengers with a Disability, Meal Service for Passengers with a Disability, Mechanical Bulletins for Private Rail Cars. 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 avoids service disruption with new vaccine mandate for workers 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. However, this was not the case on my train. While the science is clear that universal . Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription toAARP The Magazine. Amtrak restores service on routes following COVID cutbacks An email with password reset instructions is on the way. Prevaccination checklist for COVID-19 vaccines - Centers for Disease Don't forget to share your train travel experience with us after your trip. privacy policy. Another Flight, There are children in room 1 without an adult, You didn't specify child's age for room 1, There are children in room 2 without an adult, There are children in room 3 without an adult, There are children in room 4 without an adult, There are children in room 5 without an adult, Please select a trip duration less than 28 days, There must be at least 1 traveler (age 12+) for each infant in a lap, Exclusive Walgreens Cash rewards for members, AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia: Vacation Packages, Members save when booking a flight vacation package, AARP Identity Theft Protection powered by Norton, Up to 53% off comprehensive protection plans, AARP Online Fitness powered by LIFT session, Customized workouts designed around your goals and schedule, SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS. 2021 may be the Year of the Road Trip. _ @ " $ # ,). Its really understanding where am I going, what do I want to get out of this trip and what will be the expectations for me? says Elizabeth Blount McCormick, the president of international travel management company Uniglobe Travel Designers. The company updated its policy in reaction to the TSA no longer enforcing the mask mandate. 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. Brandon Brown, an epidemiologist and a public health and medical ethics professor at University of California at Riverside, says vaccine passports are a helpful way to encourage people to get vaccines, and thus a way of protecting a travelers health (not to mention protecting other people a traveler encounters on a trip). An Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train at Moorpark Station in California. Youre vaccinated and ready to travel. CDC's COVID-19 Community Levels provide information about the amount of severe illness in the community where you are located to help you decide when to take action to protect yourself and . 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. However, on the routes where the boarding announcements didnt sound as intense about COVID policies, passengers seemed less inclined to follow the rules. National Railroad Passenger Corporation, https://www.amtrak.com/content/amtrak/en-us/planning-booking/planning-booking-tips/riding-on-amtrak-train-for-the-first-time. On-the-Spot Requests In instances when it is not feasible or practical to make a request in advance, passengers can request an "on-the-spot" modification to the policy, procedure or practice at any time to any Amtrak employee. The tablecloth dining will return June 23 to the six trains serving the western United. Amtrak will respond to passenger requests within 72 hours. COVID travel: Is taking Amtrak trains safer than flying? - USA TODAY National Railroad Passenger Corporation, https://www.amtrak.com/content/amtrak/en-us/about-amtrak/50th-anniversary/covid-adaptations. Amtraks Coast Starlight is a Superliner, a fancy term that basically means its a double-decker train which, as I would find out, is great for views, but can get a little rocky in your private room. 5. Amtrak President Stephen Gardner told a House Transportation subcommittee that roughly 95% of its 17,000 employees have been fully vaccinated ahead of a Jan. 4 deadline. Amtrak became the latest company to require vaccinations for employees on Thursday, joining several airlines that have mandated the jab. About 1.5% of Amtrak's trains are being reduced until Thursday, with . I took a few last glimpses outside the window and wondered what views Id miss as we passed by in the darkness. All baggage should contain an ID tag. again. Since then, ridership crept partway back to its. Brown says even if a test is not required for your trip, its always good to know your health status before you venture out and interact with others. The service requires full JavaScript support in order to view this website. 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. # $ % & ' ( ) * + , - . News Airlines United Airlines Amtrak Joe Biden. Free online workshop! Other precautions include the removal of non-safety materials from seatback pockets, and automatic door open buttons that customers can tap with their foot to move between cars. I observed room attendants entering the private rooms of passengers who were not wearing masks. We were off. 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items. If you are going to be traveling for long periods of time, pack food and a water bottle (that you can refill after passing through the TSA checkpoint) as a backup. Amtrak's New Safety Procedures Amid Coronavirus - AARP