2021 may be the Year of the Road Trip. 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 . We have useful tips and information for travelers like you to make your first rail journey as enjoyable as it could be. We have made upgrades to the Amtrak app, where customers can book, get boarding information, and check train status from a mobile device and receive real-time information before boarding. By Mary Forgione. Add Offers may be subject to change without notice. Amtrak encourages boarding with eTickets, which conductors scan from the Amtrak app. Help children when boarding and leaving the train. By signing in to your account you acknowledge you have read and agree to the updated terms and conditions, including the binding arbitration agreement. _ @ " $ # ,). For TTY service, call 1-800-523-6590. The affected routes include some trains in the Northeast Corridor and a New Orleans route. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. Amtrak's unique travel experience for families, individuals and groups, Tickets & fares, accessible travel service, security & ID requirements, Boarding information, station lounges, baggage & station services, Seating & sleeping, baggage info, train amenities, food & dining, Amtrak travel deals, promotions and other partner offers, Savings for Kids, Seniors, Military, Groups and More, Train vacation packages throughout North America, USA Rail passes, monthly passes and multi-ride tickets, Earn points toward Amtrak reward travel, upgrades and more, Discover member benefits, ways to earn or redeem points and more, Explore ways to earn points that can quickly add up to great rewards, Get even more benefits with an Amtrak Guest Rewards credit card. 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. AARP Membership LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. Other resources are available for conducting that research, including the State Department and CDC websites or the travel-organizing app TripIt which allows users to learn about coronavirus infection rates, entry and exit rules, and other guidelines. Private rooms, available on long-distance and overnight routes, are another option for customers hoping to keep their distance from others while onboard. 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. This will give customers the opportunity to book a train that is less crowded. Oops, that answer wasn't quite right. Please enable cookies on your browser and try again. AARP Membership - LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. Enter the email address or member number associated with your account. Amtrak will no longer require masks to be worn on board its trains as the COVID-19 mask mandate will no longer be enforced by the Transportation Security Administration. In fact, I had taken my inaugural journey on the bucket-list route back in early February, riding south from San Francisco to San Luis Obispo and then, a few days later, catching the train down again to the end of the line in Los Angeles. Battery fire on Spirit flight to Florida sends 10 to hospital. Officials are still not recommending travel for everyone due to the rising number of cases in the United States and globally. Please enter a password. Notify patients/residents and their families, as appropriate, of the presence of a COVID-19 case and/or outbreak in the facility based on facility policy and procedure 7. We reached my room and I was immediately impressed. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. Passwords should be at least 10 characters long and include 1 uppercase and 1 lowercase alpha character, 1 number and 1 special character. Every other table had a sign on it, instructing passengers to leave the booth empty in order to maintain social distancing. Vaccine questions, answered. Enter the email address or member number associated with your account. 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. Anyone needing or choosing to wear one is encouraged to do so. Travel tips you can trust. For the most part, the check in procedure went fairly well, except for the fact that the train would be running a couple of hours late before it even started. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the safety card found in most seat backs. A Coronavirus Checklist: Prepare for the Possibility You May Get Very Sick. 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. Once youre done getting your vaccine shot(s), protect that fragile document like a Faberg egg. Never attempt to board or exit a moving train. Let's try a different question. Although its already twice the size of a roomette, the bedroom cabins are much more spacious than they appear online. Passwords are case sensitive. The agency also suggests self-quarantining for seven days when you get home, even if your test is negative. Private Rooms Your password must be at least 8 characters long, include at least 1 alpha character, and include at least 1 number or special character (- ? The policy change comes a day after Tampa's U.S. District Court Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle ruled in a 59-page decision that the "mask mandate exceeds the CDC's statutory authority and violated the procedures required for agency rulemaking." If capacity exceeds comfort levels, customers can change their ticket without incurring a fee (a fare difference may apply). Amtrak, which employs more than 20,000 people, is subject to the White House vaccine mandate that government contractors require employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 4, with . Earn points toward reward travel, upgrades and more. privacy policy. Tickets Charge your electronic devices and get them ready to show your eTicket to the conductor or station personnel. 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. Up until this point, all of my anxiety about traveling during a pandemic had managed to drown out something I hadnt even considered: the excitement of traveling. Let's try a different question. Topline. # $ % & ' ( ) * + , - . TripIts Moyse warns travelers that shirking local restrictions such as mask-wearing is not just a health risk, but a financial one. Let's try a different question. Amtrak became the latest company to require vaccinations for employees on Thursday, joining several airlines that have mandated the jab. A half hour before departure is recommended for most passengers, 60 minutes for those who need help with ticketing or baggage. The journey was smooth, . After a dramatic drop in ridership during the first few months of the pandemic, Amtrak has been steadily welcoming back more customers but it's still operating with modified policies and guidelines to keep passengers safe in stations and onboard trains. Add an ID tag to all your bags. Read More: I flew Delta for the first time since it stopped blocking middle seats and found cracks showing in its mask enforcement here's what it was like, Read More: I rode Amtrak up and down the Northeast Corridor during the pandemic and found it surprisingly clean, cheap, and stress-free here's what it was like, Read More: Amtrak relaunches USA Rail Pass, a ticket that lets you travel the country for 30 days for $299, Read More: New York just debuted a $1.6 billion train hall to upgrade its notorious Penn Station, complete with skylight ceilings and a premium lounge see inside, I flew Delta for the first time since it stopped blocking middle seats and found cracks showing in its mask enforcement here's what it was like, I rode Amtrak up and down the Northeast Corridor during the pandemic and found it surprisingly clean, cheap, and stress-free here's what it was like, Amtrak relaunches USA Rail Pass, a ticket that lets you travel the country for 30 days for $299, New York just debuted a $1.6 billion train hall to upgrade its notorious Penn Station, complete with skylight ceilings and a premium lounge see inside. Upon reaching out to Amtrak, a spokesperson for the company said, "The health and safety of our riders and crew continues to be our number one priority. "I enjoyed the privacy and comfort of the Viewliner Roomette sleeper car and felt Amtrak delivered on promises for strong COVID-19 policies. Though it was a shared space . Javascript must be enabled to use this site. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The railroad entity told. That answer wasnt correct either. 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. again. Stations (and trains) are receiving enhanced cleaning, particularly of high-touch surfaces like door handles and countertops. Amtrak has canceled about two dozen trains, blaming bad weather and COVID-19 cases among workers. Should there be an annual coronavirus booster? That includes contactless boarding, enhanced disinfection through a partnership with Lysol, and onboard filtration systems that exchange fresh air every four to five minutes. ! " 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. 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. The affected trains include the Southwest Chief (Chicago-Los Angeles), Coast Starlight (Los Angeles-Seattle), California Zephyr (Chicago-San Francisco), Empire Builder (Chicago-Seattle or Portland, Ore.), Crescent (New York-New Orleans), Texas Eagle (Chicago-San Antonio), Capitol Limited (Washington, D.C.-Chicago), Lake Shore Limited (New York-Chicago) and City of New Orleans (Chicago-New Orleans.). The Pennsylvanian and Keystone lines covering Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and New . While the ruling is being reviewed, the Biden administration confirmed on Monday night that the TSA will not enforce mask-wearing. One such innovation is the expansion of reserved seating on Acela trains. COVID-19 has fast-tracked many innovations already in the works. A fare difference may apply to your new itinerary. In short: people want different options for travel, and Amtrak threads the needle, accommodating varying needs. . Be sure to step over the gap between the train and platform. School and child care screening Take the school and child care screening online. Get flash sales, Amtrak Guest Rewards promotions and account updates sent directly to your inbox. This expansion also marks the first time customers can reserve a seat in the Quiet Car. terms and conditions An email with password reset instructions is on the way. Please enter a password. App users will also receive boarding gate and track information at select stations so they can head directly to their train. Presidents gain too much power when emergencies like covid hit, The Checkup With Dr. Wen: Three important studies shed light on long covid, We are not overcounting covid deaths in the United States, China, speeding through phases of covid, gets on with living with virus, FDA advisers favor retiring original covid shot and using newer version. Watch your step moving from car to car while the train is in motion, as the vestibules can be slippery. Pack a face mask and a backup. Watch your step moving from car to car while the train is in motion, as the vestibules can be slippery. Amtrak has required its customers and workers to wear masks since May of 2020. I took a few last glimpses outside the window and wondered what views Id miss as we passed by in the darkness. Blount McCormick says that for now, travel insurance is a must, as the status of the pandemic can change daily on personal, local and global levels. Not only are those places riskier for both visitors and locals, Moyse says, they are also likely to have more restrictions. When I finally made it to the dining room the next day, after official breakfast hours were over, Sandy and Linda greeted me. WASHINGTON - Amtrak is setting a new standard of travel with enhanced safety and cleaning measures. Your password must be at least 8 characters long, include at least 1 alpha character, and include at least 1 number or special character (- ?