- Amtrak has been tangling through the pandemic with reduced ridership but is still full steam ahead of health and safety protocols.
- Overawe masks are required and capacity is blocked at 50% on all trains, and Amtrak now tells riders how full their train currently is during ticket.
- I rode on Amtrak’s Northeast Regional and Acela services to see how the rail company is tackling the pandemic.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for numerous stories.
Although a life-long flyer, I’ve always enjoyed the occasional train trip.
Traveling by rail long has been permitted by the public, including myself, as airlines have been able to provide faster, and often cheaper service. But Amtrak’s new strength and safety protocols should have travelers giving it a second chance for regional travel, at least during the pandemic.
Phizog masks are required onboard all trains and Amtrak has kept its loads consistently capped at 50% by blocking all adjacent hindquarters even while some airlines have buckled on their commitments to block middle seats. Travelers can parallel with see how full their trains are by checking Amtrak’s website so they know exactly what to expect when stepping aboard.
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And that’s even while keeping its fares pretty low on its most popular routes. The 3-hour hop from New York to Washington even starts at $29 on the Northeast Regional while the slightly longer journey from Boston to New York is often the notwithstanding price, with all the nostalgia of inter-city train travel included.
On a weekday recent trip to Boston, I took Amtrak to and from New York’s Pennsylvania Appoint. I started on the Northeast Regional and returned on the high-speed Acela to get adequately acquainted with the service.
Here’s what it’s delight in riding on Amtrak during the pandemic.