Good Question: How is AMTRAK protecting riders?

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Here’s a Good Question about taking trips.

Bill wanted to know: How is the COVID pandemic affecting AMTRAK? Are they hurting as bad as the airlines? What precautions are being taken, and what should we know if we decide to use a train?

Like all industries– AMTRAK took a massive hit, going back to the early months of the pandemic, daily ridership fell by 95% at one point.
Things are slowly improving in the recovery phase, though AMTRAK pushed the government for more federal funding for the new budget year, and made sweeping safety and cleaning changes for riders. The company calls it a "new standard of travel".

This includes everything you’d expect.: masks, rider limits, and capacity indictors if you want to book a route that isn’t as crowded. Trip flexibility is another issue, as AMTRAK officials are waiving all change fees for reservations made by the end of this coming March.

But, keep in mind, if you’re changing a trip, the fare might not end up being the same.

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