483 replies to this topic

[pennyk]

Change Fees Waived on All Existing or New Reservations Made Before April 30



There are no current travel restrictions on Amtrak. However, we understand you may have concerns, and as a valued customer we will waive change fees on all existing or new reservations made before April 30, 2020. We will continue to monitor the coronavirus situation closely and adjust this policy as necessary. 
The waiver applies for tickets purchased by April 30, 2020.

How to Change Your Reservation
Simply log in to your account or go to Modify Trip on Amtrak.com, or find your reservation from your account on the home screen in the Amtrak app.
A fare difference may apply to your new itinerary if it is more expensive than the original fare purchased.
If you want to cancel your reservation, call 1-800-USA-RAIL.

https://www.amtrak.c...eFeeWaived.html

[CNJRoss]

New York Post 3/7/20
 

Amtrak cancels Acela service between NYC, Washington due to coronavirus

 

 

Amtrak is suspending Acela nonstop service between New York and Washington through late May because of falling demand due to the coronavirus outbreak.

 

The high-speed trains are popular with business people, but many employers have stopped travel because of the disease.

 

“Starting Tuesday, March 10, Acela Nonstop service is suspended until Tuesday, May 26,” Amtrak posted on its website.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

CNBC 3/7/20

Amtrak suspends nonstop Acela service between DC and New York due to coronavirus

 

• The Acela nonstop service will be temporarily suspended starting Tuesday, March 10 until Tuesday, May 26.
• Amtrak has also waived change fees on all existing or new reservations made before April 30.
• Amtrak also plans to reduce the risk of the coronavirus spread by “increasing the frequency of cleaning services to multiple times a day, and in some cases, on an hourly basis.”

 

Amtrak has cancelled its Acela nonstop service between Washington, D.C. and New York as one of its safety measures amid concerns regarding the spread of the coronavirus. 

 

“The safety of Amtrak’s customers and employees is our top priority,” the company said in a release. “We are closely monitoring the coronavirus and are taking action based on guidance from public health experts.”

 

The Acela nonstop service will be temporarily suspended starting Tuesday, March 10 until Tuesday, May 26.

 

Continue here.

 

[KevinKorell]

To make it clear, as the press release from Amtrak hasn't, ONE. Count them, ONE Acela round trip has been cancelled.  That round trip did not exist at all 6 months ago as it debuted September 23rd.  It's a trip that I have strongly doubted had the ridership that is captive to a nonstop trip between two cities. The way the Amtrak press release went out, and the TV, radio, and newspaper outlets picked up, it would appear that Amtrak is suspending all Acela service. The NY Post headline above implies this.

 

 

Service adjustments

As we are experiencing some reduced demand for our service, we are making temporary adjustments to our schedule, such as removing train cars or cancelling trains when there is a convenient alternative with a similar schedule that will have minimal impact to customers, including:

• Starting Tuesday, March 10, Acela Nonstop service (Trains 2401, 2402, 2403) is suspended until Tuesday, May 26.

Furthermore, there is no Train 2403.  Maybe if the Nonstops had been expanded beyond the one current trip, but for now on the current timetable, there was no 2403 to cancel.  Misinformation spreads even faster than the disease they are worried about.  The existing Acela Nonstops they are suspending are 2401 and 2402.

 

If there is concern about large groups of people being together, the cancellation of some trains (assuming there may be more coming) will then concentrate more people together on the trains that continue to run.  Empty seats are safer than a packed train.

 

There should also be some red flags about the sudden train cleaning going on (not only on Amtrak but local rapid transit and commuter rail as well) that apparently wasn't happening before.  Whose dirt and germs were we sitting in all this time?

 

Why my rant? As a proponent of rail service, it hurts to see the wrong information going out to the media and being given out to the less understanding public.  If ridership is already lacking, this won't help to improve it.

[pennyk]

AMTRAK STATEMENT: CORONAVIRUS UPDATE, 2:00 P.M. CT, MAR. 8.
March 8, 2020



At Amtrak, safety is our top priority. We have received notification from St. Louis County, Mo. that an individual who traveled on Amtrak train 303 (Chicago – St. Louis) on March 4, 2020, has tested presumptive positive for the coronavirus.  We are working in close contact with public health and emergency management teams to have the best available information to be able to share with our customers and employees who might be affected. Amtrak is notifying passengers and employees who may have been on the same train, and as a precaution, we have taken the train out of service for comprehensive cleaning and disinfection, and are also working to do a thorough disinfection of the Chicago and St. Louis stations.
For more information on our efforts to maintain a safe environment, visit https://media.amtrak...fe-environment/.
 

https://media.amtrak...0-p-m-ct-mar-8/

 

From KCTV news: https://www.kctv5.co...12c5a3e8f8.html

Edited by pennyk, 08 March 2020 - 07:04 PM.

[KevinKorell]

Dear Kevin,

The safety of our customers and employees is Amtrak's top priority. We are closely monitoring the Covid-19 situation and are taking action based on guidance from public health experts. In order to maintain a safe environment and address customer concerns, we are taking measures including: • Enhanced cleaning protocols. We have increased the frequency of cleaning service on our trains and at our stations. • Additional antibacterial products. We have increased the quantity of sanitizers and disinfectant wipes available for customers and employees throughout our trains and stations. • No change fees on bookings made through April 30, 2020. We are waiving change fees so you can book travel on Amtrak^® with confidence, knowing you have the flexibility to change your plans. We will continue to respond to the latest on Covid‑19 with customer and employee safety top of mind. As always, we will strive to create a safe and enjoyable experience for your Amtrak journey — and we hope to see you on board soon. Thank you for being an Amtrak Guest Rewards^® member.


Sincerely, Roger Harris
Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer

[KevinKorell]

Journal-Gazette-Times-Courier, 3/10/20:

 

  Mattoon Amtrak passengers wary of new coronavirus; Resolve to continue traveling while taking precautions   

 

 

When regular Amtrak passenger Katie Riesch of Carbondale and her young son took their seats for a recent trip back home to Coles County, she immediately wiped down the adjacent trays and hard surfaces.

 

 

Story

[pennyk]

Chicago Tribune, 3/11/20
 

Amtrak to reduce routes, roll out voluntary leave program as coronavirus cuts train travel in half

Amtrak told employees Wednesday it will “significantly” reduce service and offer an unpaid voluntary leave program as bookings on the national railroad drop 50% in the wake of the growing coronavirus outbreak.


The memo, which was obtained by the Tribune, said cancellations are up 300% and ridership has “declined sharply” in the Northeast and across Amtrak’s national network, with those trends accelerating in recent days.

 
https://www.chicagot...dz7u-story.html

[KevinKorell]

The correct term would be reduce trains, not reduce routes.

 

I wonder how many employees are going to take a voluntary no-pay leave.

 

Another e-mail received today:

 

 

Measures we're taking regarding COVID-19.

 

 

View as a web page

 

 

 

SPECIAL MESSAGE 

 

 

 

 

Dear Kevin,

The safety of our customers and employees is Amtrak's top priority. We are closely monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and are taking action based on guidance from public health experts. In order to maintain a safe environment and address customer concerns, we are taking measures including:

 

 

•

Enhanced cleaning protocols. We have increased the frequency of cleaning service on our trains and at our stations.

•

Additional antibacterial products. We have increased the quantity of sanitizers and disinfectant wipes available for customers and employees throughout our trains and stations.

•

No change fees on bookings made through April 30, 2020. We are waiving change fees so you can book travel on Amtrak^® with confidence, knowing you have the flexibility to change your plans.

 

 

We have temporarily suspended three trains that operate between New York and Washington (Trains 2401, 2402, 2403) due to lower demand and additional changes to our schedule are under consideration. Amtrak continues to operate 300 daily trains, including more than 100 daily trains on the Northeast Corridor and continues to serve all of our stations. If schedules are modified for any existing reservation, we will contact you to provide an update.

 

 

We will continue to respond to the latest on COVID‑19 with customer and employee safety top of mind. Please visit this page for further information on our efforts, which we will continually update. For additional information about the Coronavirus, visit the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website . As always, we will strive to create a safe and enjoyable experience for your Amtrak journey. Thank you for being an Amtrak customer.

 

 

Sincerely,

Roger Harris
Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm still wondering where they got a Train 2403... it's not on any schedule I can find.

[pennyk]

USA Today, 3/11/20

Amtrak bookings plunge 50%, cancellations soar amid coronavirus concerns

Amtrak's bookings have plunged and cancellations have soared amid concerns about the coronavirus, and the company told its employees Wednesday to expect "significant reductions" in train service and voluntary, unpaid leave.

In an email Wednesday, Gardner said bookings are down 50%, while cancellations are up 300%.

"Our ridership and revenue have declined sharply over the past few weeks, both on the Northeast Corridor and across the national network," Gardner wrote. "These reductions have accelerated in recent days and will likely continue for some time."

https://www.usatoday...HsK-Ierl1eE__ps