Theres not enough data on either to say which is safer, but the same risk factors are at play. 01:32 (LOSE FILE CHIP) IT'S NOT JUST BUILDINGS -- PUBLIC TRANSIT LIKE AMTRAK HAS BEEN LOOKING AT AIR QUALITY TOO. Amit Gaggar Photography: Steve Wood. Finally, the signals of change are growing obvious. Despite the release of a report in 1985 called Detroit-Chicago Corridor: High Speed Rail, nothing much changed. The APTA report suggested that commuters should reduce risk by wearing a mask and staying six feet apart and that train cars should be well ventilated. "Maine is known as an outdoors place, as a fresh air place, as a natural place.". 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. "We have been waylaid by the CDC with 'wash all this stuff,'" Dr. Arnot said. Then, in 2009, Amtrak installed a new high-tech safety system on 97 miles of track it owns in western Michigan reaching into Indiana. The truth is that few of us are wearing masks with strong enough filters to reliably screen viruses out of the air. In fact, we have a full-time medical director and public health and safety team who have been on the frontlines throughout the COVID-19 outbreak. Places like Washington State have already mandated live CO2 readings for restaurants, as a way to try to mitigate the virus risk. Corrie Pikul is the Health and Wellness Director of O, The Oprah magazine, where she covers every aspect of health, from mood to the microbiome, the immune system to the cardiovascular system, sex to sleep. More airtight locations would have to work with their HVAC systems to increase the fresh air intake to levels that would adequately lower the parts per million (PPM). At New York Penn Station, Amtrak installed new wayfinding signage and an Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation System in one of the Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning units in the Amtrak concourse, refreshed platforms and completed the second and final phase of the Ticketed Waiting Area refresh in conjunction with NJ TRANSIT. (BOARDING) THEY SAY RIDERS CAN ALSO EXPECT PLENTY OF FRESH AIR ON BOARD AS WE HEAD INTO SUMMER. Amtrak hopes this slower stretch of track, owned by MDOT since 2012, can be upgraded by the end of 2022. SHARON, Vt. (AP) The driver of a tractor-trailer that was hit by an Amtrak train on Monday has been . Bacterial co-infection is a major risk factor for death, intensive care unit admission and mechanical ventilation, according to a multi-center, retrospective cohort study published in the journal Critical Care and led by University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers.. Coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, has killed more than 6.3 million people worldwide. "Cambridge University says it is the best overall indicator of whether or not you have fresh air in that room or not. 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 . (DR BOB ZOOM) 18:02 FUNDAMENTALLY YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE CLEAN OUTDOOR AIR, INDOORS. Employees are also required to wear masks at all times, unless in their private rooms. 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. The collision occurred at an unguarded rail crossing on a section of Quarry Road that only serves . (CG: PATRICIA QUINN, NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND PASSENGER RAIL AUTHORITY) 09:25 IT EXCHANGES SEVERAL TIMES AN HOUR. Written by David Peter Alan , Contributing Editor. 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. Follow her on Twitter @tanyalewis314Credit: Nick Higgins, Amanda Montaez is an associate graphics editor at Scientific American. It found no correlation between mass transit use and transmission of the virus. Amtrak has canceled about two dozen trains, blaming bad weather and COVID-19 cases among workers. With tourism expected to rebound, officials hope to get back to about 60% of pre-pandemic ridership by mid-summer. In addition to snagging window seats, bus riders should look for the same safety features they would on a subway: a mask requirement, good ventilation and adequate spacing between passengers. Unfortunately, roaming around the train is a bad idea right nowand for the foreseeable future. Dont let them spoil a trip. That [risk] could be mitigated and reduced with mask use, but its still possible [to become infected].. Arnot said he has submitted a proposal to the Biden Administration to mandate carbon dioxide meters in public indoor spaces like bars and restaurants. Masks covering your nose and mouth are required by Amtrak in all stations, as is keeping proper social distance from others. As the sun set on my first day, I was ready to call it a night. 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. I observed room attendants entering the private rooms of passengers who were not wearing masks. 00:31) (CG: DR. BOB ARNOT, INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT) 10:25 THE REASON WE STILL HAVE HUNDREDS TO THOUSANDS OF CASES EVERY SINGLE DAY IT'S AS IF PEOPLE WERE WALKING INTO BURNING BUILDINGS AND WE DIDN'T HAVE SMOKE DETECTORS DR. BO ARNOT IS A LONGTIME MEDICAL JOURNALIST AND AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT, WHO TREATED EBOLA PATIENTS IN AFRICA. 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. We have no middle seats, so each passenger either is seated beside a companion or you have an empty seat next to you.. In fact, the whole room looked like what I would have expected to find in a first-class suite on an international flight back in the 1970s (if they made them this big). Over Thanksgiving weekend, the Transportation Security Administration reported a massive bump in travelers passing through airports, and AAA predicted nearly 50 million people would be traveling by car. Here's how to get better air flow at home, in schools and offices even in gyms to stave off COVID. While the view itself wasnt breathtaking, I found myself holding my breath. With announcements of our largest order for new trains in decades, the opening of new stations, the addition of new customer services and amenities, and our proposals for new corridor service in up to 160 communities, Amtrak put in motion key initiatives to support an enhanced national rail network capable of serving more people in more places with better service. Passenger train operator Amtrak claims to cycle air through cabins 44 times an hour. Solo travel can be risky. 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. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. "I think Maine is very well positioned," Quinn said. Follow her on Twitter @unamandita, Rob Jackson, Corinne Le Qur, Pep Canadell, Pierre Friedlingstein and Glen Peters | Opinion. Explore our digital archive back to 1845, including articles by more than 150 Nobel Prize winners. 09:20 CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY SAYS IT'S THE BEST OVERALL INDICATOR OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE FRESH AIR IN THAT ROOM OR NOT 09:26 // BUTTED // 09:32 IN WASHINGTON STATE NOW IF YOU GOT TO A RESTAURANT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CO2 READING. In a case study of a bus in China, a passenger with the novel coronavirus was able to infect many other riders, including those seated up to seven rows away. Still, a handful of case studies have found that limited transmission can take place onboard. As the coronavirus pandemic .css-9cezh6{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#E61957;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-9cezh6:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}rages on around the world, experts reiterate that the safest way to travel is via your own two feetpreferably using them to go on a nice, solitary walk around the block or through the woods. Sleepy small towns and vast stretches of farmland also whizzed by outside, blurring into one another and introducing stories and characters that existed only for seconds. Katherine Alex Beaven is a Los Angeles-based travel, food and drink, and culture writer. 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. "And that has really been something that I think has given people a sense of comfort. Public transit systems have also been focusing on the ventilation component. If the rate of community transmission in your region is low, chances are that taking the occasional taxi or ride-share car is not a huge riskprovided you wear a mask and keep the windows open as much as possible. 15 people were likely infected with COVID-19 in-flight, study modeled the risk of in-flight infection, novel coronavirus tore through New York City, asked several international transportation agencies, report by the American Public Transportation Association, Environmental Protection Agency recommends them, Sorry, UFO Hunters--You Might Just Be Looking at a Spy Balloon, AI Outraces Human Champs at the Video Game Gran Turismo, The Pandemic's Mental Toll, and Does Telehealth Work? All the others have people right next to you, she said. I took a few last glimpses outside the window and wondered what views Id miss as we passed by in the darkness. Amtrak will restore traditional dining car service on six western routes and the Auto Train on June 23. "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. One advantage to taking a train over a plane is that there are often fewer crowds and queues. What Is Normal When It Comes to Menopause? Media members should contact the Media Relations Office for their region (see the map and listings here). At the very least, it does no harm to wear a mask. Since then, that number has climbed north of 30% as the calendar moved closer to summer. The 14 Most Scenic Train Rides in the U.S. 31 Romantic Weekend Getaways to Book on a Budget, From Oprah Daily for Orangetheory Fitness, safest way to travel is via your own two feet, Bill Miller, an epidemiologist at The Ohio State University, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. While this reserved seating option doesn't apply to your local, commuter train, you can follow the same best practices. 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. "Cambridge University says it is the best overall indicator of whether or not you have fresh air in that room or not.". In my pre-pandemic life, I traveled for work two to three times a month a far cry from the one-mile radius I had confined myself to in Brooklyn between March and August. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. But the rail systems officials have posted videos that agree with prominent experts on viral transmission: Amtrak trains are likely safer than planes for avoiding the deadly virus. During the 2019 fiscal year, Amtrak carried a record 32.5 million passengers; however, an Amtrak internal analysis in April showed a 95 percent drop in ridership because of the coronavirus. Silverman is a travel agent, operating a Cruise Planners franchise from her home. We have studied, analyzed, and made improvements to the Amtrak travel experience from beginning to end, focusing on the safety and health of our people and travelers.". Since then, Amtrak has enhanced both its fleet and travel experiences to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. All of that may, literally, require an act of Congress. I noticed that on the Empire Builder, my attendant was frequently sanitizing the car, my roomette smelled of disinfectant when I boarded, and the conductor sounded very serious about policing passengers about wearing masks., She went on to say that she never saw a room attendant without a mask on, unless they were in their own room with the door closed and even then, they rushed to put on a mask before opening the door for her. 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). 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. Space: Do you have any personal space, do you have enough distance between you and others? 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. Phone calls are preferred if the request is urgent. And while safety and sanitization were largely prioritized no matter which train I rode, the experience wasnt uniform. I flagged down Linda, who promptly set up my bed, made sure I was set for the night, and then left me to listen to the audiobook Id downloaded and text my friends during the on-and-off pockets of service (I didnt attempt to join the Wi-Fi this go-around.) Stay safer on different forms of transportation. Those measures dont guarantee risk-free travel on board. Those with medical conditions who cannot wear masks must wear a face shield as a substitute. This article was published more than2 years ago. However, this was not the case on my train. Travel news, guides and tips for anyone looking to get away. For the most part, it seemed the protocols were being adhered to, but when staff seemed more lax about sanitizing and enforcing mask policy, passengers used that opportunity to be less safe themselves.. There seemed to be less risk of transmission, however, for people who were seated near windows and doors that could open. An onboard filtration system continuously refreshes the space every four to five minutes, removing air from the car's interior and replacing it with new, conditioned, external air. Last year, the rail systems executives along with their boosters in the nonprofit Rail Passengers Association had hoped to cap their record-breaking 2019 ridership with a crucial win in the U.S. Congress, at last giving Amtrak the legal clout for its trains to take precedence over the freight trains that it says so often cause delays. Oh, look at that! Her voice sounded like she had just won the lottery. COVID-19 risk calculator: The safest and most dangerous things to do this holiday season; Updated number of COVID-19 deaths, cases in Bay Area; COVID-19 Help: Comprehensive list of resources . 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. Greater Portland METRO has installed high-tech purification systems onboard their new buses. 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 . While driving and flying are the most popular travel options, where does taking a train fit into pandemic travel? 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. Its the ultimate transient experience: Almost as soon as you see something out the window, its gone, and then everything eventually fades to black. AND WHERE COULD YOU POSSIBLY HAVE BETTER AIR THAN THE STATE OF MAINE -- YOU OUGHT TO BE SELLING IT (LAUGHS) 18:13 (BOTTARI LL TAG) WHILE I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH MAINE AIR WOULD SELL FOR, I DO KNOW, THOSE CO2 METERS COST ABOUT 100 DOLLARS FOR A HANDHELD ONE. He adds, Weve seen this in studies of flu transmission on airplanes. While the flu virus doesnt necessarily spread throughout the entire plane, a sick person who expels the virus into the air is likely to spray contaminated droplets on the people in the seats around them. HE SAYS -- WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE AIR QUALITY OF THE SPACES WE'RE WALKING INTO. Despite the risk, many people are likely to travel using various forms of transportation that will inevitably put them in relatively close contact with others. Another safety factor? Over the past few months, Ive taken four trains over three Amtrak routes, Wunderman told me. Initially some researchers blamed the metropoliss bustling subwaywhich carried 5.5 million commuters on a typical pre-COVID weekdayfor making it the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. Our editors handpick the products that we feature. Linda and her boisterous charm bid me adieu, promising to return to show me around my new digs after she was able to meet, greet, and guide her other sleeping car passengers to their rooms. Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the Teamsters Jun 22, 2020, 09:00 ET. 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. WATCH LIVE Chicago & Suburban Cook Co. North Suburbs West Suburbs South Suburbs NW Indiana We have new procedures that ask people to stay seated and listen for directions for on how to detrain, says Kuhnen. Private Rooms "Greater Portland METRO has installed high-tech purification systems onboard their new buses. Passport wait times are up again. However, she adds, I dont think many people realize that the trains have very sophisticated ventilation. An onboard filtration system continuously refreshes the space every four to five minutes, removing air from the cars interior and replacing it with new, conditioned, external air. Anyone needing or choosing to wear one is encouraged to do so. A September report by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) examined the coronaviruss spread in cities around the globe that had robust public transit systems. After locking the door behind me and closing the privacy curtain, I immediately took out my tub of Clorox wipes. This past spring the novel coronavirus tore through New York City, reaching a peak of thousands of new cases per day in April. So, whats holding back higher speeds across Michigan? More. During the COVID-19 pandemic, local train travel dipped from 8,000 passengers a day to 200. 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. Amtrak doesnt directly make that claim on its website. However, on the routes where the boarding announcements didnt sound as intense about COVID policies, passengers seemed less inclined to follow the rules. The new coaches, built in the U.S. by the German multinational company Siemens, will be pulled by almost-new Siemens Charger locomotives, which Amtrak began introducing in the Midwest in 2018 and 2019, according to Amtrak officials. 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. Walking through the rows of roomettes, it appeared that people were taking advantage of a loophole in the mask rule they were maskless while in their rooms as required, but their doors were wide open.
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