If the lawmakers see it Amtraks way, many more travelers may ride the rails for reasons other than COVID-19 concerns. In Vermont, Dr. Arnot advised some of the local school districts on how to improve their air quality. 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. The new cars could be put into service as soon as this spring, said Michael Frezell, a spokesman for the Michigan Department of Transportation, which purchased the cars and owns much of the track Amtrak uses between Detroit and Chicago. At the very least, it does no harm to wear a mask. Still, Lofgren reminds us that we need to be vigilant about maintaining six feet of space. Since then, that number has climbed north of 30% as the calendar moved closer to summer. If a window is able to be opened, that always helps getting droplets to disperse very quickly, making it very unlikely that they will make it to another person in enough of a concentration to transmit infection, especially if masking is enforced, he said. This finding assumes the infected passenger is wearing a surgical mask, however, and it does not account for the dangers involved in removing the mask for meals or talking or in moving about on the plane. The airport, for example, is usually an extremely busy place with people coming and going from all over, and passengers typically spend a long time cooped up together waiting for their plane. One advantage to taking a train over a plane is that there are often fewer crowds and queues. 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. Nearly 500 Police and Sheriffs departments across 43 states and the District of Columbia joined the Amtrak Police Department and Operation Lifesaver Inc. to conduct Operation Clear Track, the single largest railroad safety law enforcement detail in the U.S. Amtrak also trained 3,052 employees in Safety Starts with Me, an internal safety program. Amtrak typically makes track announcements between 10 and 15 minutes before departure, and I wanted to get a good seat. If youre traveling a long distance, then booking a private carespecially if it has a bathroomcould substantially lower your risk. It might be worth the price. In the station, Lofgren says you should practice the same kind of social distancing that youd do at, say, the grocery store: Minimize your contact with other people, so if someone is boarding, hang out until theres space for you to safely get on behind them. Silverman is a travel agent, operating a Cruise Planners franchise from her home. Our customers trust Amtraks commitment to safety and are responding positively to the investments and improvements we are making, said Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn. MERV-13 filters are less efficient than HEPA filters, but the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends them for reducing the number of airborne viral particles. METRO launched a joint website with regional transit systems to provide information to riders about safety protocols. Curious what the rest of the train looked like, I put my mask back on and ventured out into the wild, opening the doors between cars by using the trains hands-free, foot-level release button. Most passengers were respectful of the rules, though there was the occasional person who used this rule as a way to get around wearing a mask for an extended period of time in other sections, like the observation car. THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO: IN HOMES, SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, EVEN PUBLIC TRANSIT -- TO LOWER THE RISK IN FACT: IN A LOT OF CASES -- THE SOLUTION IS SUPER SIMPLE. While this reserved seating option doesn't apply to your local, commuter train, you can follow the same best practices. WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao today announced that the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is making over $1 billion available to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) to support the railroad's activities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the . We talked to Amtraks corporate medical director, Ann Kuhnen, MD, as well as two epidemiologists about why these precautions matter, and what else you should know before booking a trip. But even with fresh air available, an infected passenger can still transmit the coronavirus to someone who is sitting in close proximityso riders should attempt to space themselves out and avoid densely packed cars whenever possible. I also realized that absolutely none of the windows on the train were open, and frequent reminders over the intercom made it clear that passengers were not to attempt to open them. 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. In fact, we have a full-time medical. "There is a lot of exchange," said Patricia Quinn, executive director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which operates the Downeaster. "Ridership had dipped as low as 10% of normal volume compared to 2019 at the worst of the pandemic this winter, according to the Downeaster. National Railroad Passenger Corporation. For 50 years, Amtrak has connected America and transformed transportation by modernizing train travel, and building for the future. Many buses have HVAC (heating, ventilating and air-conditioning) systems similar to those on subways and trains, with one additional factor: buses are more likely to have windows that open. It sits in the air and moves over time and space," said Dr. Bob Arnot, a longtime medical journalist and infectious disease expert who treated Ebola patients in Africa in the early 2000s. Amtrak rider Erin Silverman of Bloomfield Hills got off the train on the night of Feb. 5 in Troy, after riding the rails all the way to and from Denver. On the train, it's critical to wear a mask. By the time I stepped onto the platform in Union Station this time in Los Angeles I was ready to go home, but already missing the train. Joseph Khabbaza, a critical care medicine specialist at Cleveland Clinic, said travelers can be meticulous about their plans and still the wild card is you dont know whos going to be close to you and how close theyre going to be, what are their personal views, and how they have been approaching these last seven or eight months.. An NEJM study in March reported on a Thai taxi driver who fell ill and tested positive for the coronavirus after driving some tourists who had been coughing but wearing a mask. A number of subway and train systems use lower-rated MERV filters that are still capable of at least reducing the volume of coronavirus in the air. 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). Experts worry safe ventilation overlooked as coronavirus capacity limits, mask mandates lift, WMTW NEWS 8'S STEVE BOTTARI REPORTS THERE'S ANOTHER PIECE OF THE SAFETY PUZZLE: VENTILATION. Each is said to boast a 4,400-horsepower diesel engine made by manufacturer Cummins in Indiana, which generates electricity that powers four electric motors to turn the drive wheels. It was WWII. Due to safety reasons, the windows on Amtrak trains open only in case of emergencies, explains Kuhnen. Over the past few months, Ive taken four trains over three Amtrak routes, Wunderman told me. A post shared by Ali Wunderman (@aliwunderman). Youre in car 31 thats my car! "It's as if people were walking into burning buildings and we didn't have smoke detectors", "We know this is an airborne virus. But many planes have excellent high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters that capture more than 99 percent of particles in the air, including microbes as SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID. Wundermans advice for travelers considering taking trains this holiday season is to book a roomette or fly instead. Most major cities subways and trains constantly recirculate a mixture of fresh air and older air, both of which are pulled through a filter rated on the MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) scale. 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 said on Friday that it will temporarily reduce service on some trains because of staffing challenges stemming from a surge in cases of the Omicron variant among workers . WASHINGTON Amtrak successfully advanced its COVID-19 recovery efforts throughout its 50th Anniversary fiscal year, through continued safety measures for customers and employees, increased train service levels in line with growing demand and continued building a strong foundation for modernization and growth. More. Instead of eating in the dining car, I took advantage of Amtraks new room service option and had all my meals delivered right to my room at a time of my choosing. (DR BOB ZOOM) 18:02 FUNDAMENTALLY YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE CLEAN OUTDOOR AIR, INDOORS. Nights, Holidays & Weekends: (800) 562-1904. Meanwhile a recent Department of Defense study modeled the risk of in-flight infection using mannequins exhaling simulated virus particles and found that a person would have to be exposed to an infectious passenger for at least 54 hours to get an infectious dose. Siemens says these SC-44 Charger locomotives have a top speed of 125 mph, although they cant roll nearly that fast just yet between the Motor City and the Windy City. Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the Teamsters Jun 22, 2020, 09:00 ET. Schools have been some of the first places to take a hard look at their ventilation. Even though the train runs parallel to certain sections of the freeway, these are vantage points that you can only witness from the train. The great newsfrom an epidemiological, safety, and comfort standpointis that Amtrak is limiting bookings on reserved trains, which will allow for more physical distancing in seating areas. "Losing ridership and revenue has been a real challenge," said Donna DeMartino, the LOSSAN Agency . So far on the journey, Id soaked in the wooded landscape of the Pacific Northwest, gluing myself to the window as we snaked through trees already painted with golden yellows, bright oranges, and fiery reds. Those measures dont guarantee risk-free travel on board. Gina Suh, head of the Mayo Clinics travel clinic, says train travel isnt too dissimilar from air travel. For those who can't 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. DETROIT As segments of society reopen and the world rushes to get vaccinated, more Americans may lose their fear of flying and once again crowd airports and airplanes. FOR PLACES LIKE BARS, RESTAURANTS AND STORES DR. (ARE- KNOT) ARNOT HAS A PROPOSAL INTO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO MANDATE CARBON DIXOIDE METERS. Amtrak officials documented the late arrivals with detailed records of freight train interference, showing a chronic problem of passenger trains being forced to wait while freight trains crawled ahead. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. It sits in the air and moves over time and space," said Dr. Bob Arnot, a longtime medical journalist and infectious disease expert who treated Ebola patients in Africa in the early 2000s. Is this your first time on the Coast Starlight? Linda asked. A Free Press article last year documented that Amtraks trains had become routinely late across much of the nation, with Michigan trains the very latest. Successfully activated Positive Train Control on all required routes across the Amtrak system in advance of new regulations. It turned out to be a rough night, full of rattles and rumbles. Of course, you may have good reasons for getting away from home, and putting one foot in front of the other just isnt going to get you very far. Bidens order came after months of sporadic voluntary enforcement of mask-wearing by airlines and after a petition from Consumer Reports magazine, signed by more than 60,000 people, demanding a government rule for masking up during flight. In August the New York Times asked several international transportation agencies whether any superspreading events had been linked to mass transit, and they said none had. "I think Maine is very well positioned," Quinn said. 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. The doctors say the upper limit of any building you would want to be in would be around 800 PPM, measured by CO2 meters that are available online and in most home improvement stores for around $100. For homes and many businesses, the solution may be as simple as keeping all the windows open as much as possible. My lunch was delivered right as we entered my favorite stretch of the journey, when the scenery of central California expanded with the wineries of Paso Robles, then surrounded us on all sides with mountains. Those improvements allowed all Amtrak trains in that stretch to bump up their speeds. Fresh air is helpful to keep droplets from lingering, but it still won't protect you from a direct hit of a cough or sneeze. Trains also are safer than planes, in part, because many train stations have open-air platforms where travelers board, Dr. Aaron Rossi told USA Today in October. UPDATE: Train 178 is back on the move and currently operating approx. In Michigan, a clear example is a batch of recently upgraded locomotives and soon-to-arrive, new passenger cars. Since then, ridership crept partway back to its. 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