I'd like to go to & from NYP in October. Yet, on July 27, no one at Amtrak can predict or say how often the Lake Shore Limited will be operating after September 30th. Any reservation for October and dates thereafter is subject to change; rooms reserved for one date may not be available. All depends on the federal budget being passed by the end of the current fiscal year on September 30. Apparently Congress is insisting on LD trains continuing on a daily schedule; Amtrak management has other ideas. This makes it difficult to plan, you know?
As that guy said in Ravenna, Ohio a hundred or so years ago as he witnessed an Erie Railroad wreck about to unfold, "That's a hell of a way to run a railroad."
NKP guy I'd like to go to & from NYP in October. Yet, on July 27, no one at Amtrak can predict or say how often the Lake Shore Limited will be operating after September 30th. Any reservation for October and dates thereafter is subject to change; rooms reserved for one date may not be available. All depends on the federal budget being passed by the end of the current fiscal year on September 30. Apparently Congress is insisting on LD trains continuing on a daily schedule; Amtrak management has other ideas. This makes it difficult to plan, you know? As that guy said in Ravenna, Ohio a hundred or so years ago as he witnessed an Erie Railroad wreck about to unfold, "That's a hell of a way to run a railroad."
Appears to be the Covid way of a Going Out of Business Sale.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
NKP guy As that guy said in Ravenna, Ohio a hundred or so years ago as he witnessed an Erie Railroad wreck about to unfold, "That's a hell of a way to run a railroad."
The schools here don't even know if they will be opening in 3 weeks (normal school time). Everything is pretty much day by day.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
If I don't know whether I will be fired or not on Wednesday, it is hard to say if I will go to work on Thursday.
zugmannThe schools here don't even know if they will be opening in 3 weeks (normal school time). Everything is pretty much day by day.
You're right, zugmann.
You helped put this "problem" in perspective for me; everything's up in the air now, not just Amtrak.
Even if the LSL is running when you want to go, is that safe in your opinion?
Good question. Here's how I'm thinking about it:
I'm in a bedroom, both ways. Alone. I'm wearing a mask most of the 12 hours I'm in that room. The Viewliner sleeper will probably not be full and the ventilation seems as safe as can be expected. I don't have to go to the Trough Car (former dining car) unless I want to.
If I take a plane it's 90 minutes in a very crowded space. By taking the train my exposure is much longer but, I would think, considerably more limited.
A bus combines the worst of both options. I have no interest in driving. What would you do? ("Anyone?...anyone?...")
A second trip I'm considering is NYP to New Haven. I have more trepidation about this than the Cleveland - NYP segment because it's in an "open" car.
Comments?
Nix on the bus.
Sleeper? The safety of the circulation depends on whether it is mostly recirculated or mostly outside air. 12 hours in a mask? Ugh!
Flight? Depends on how crowded it might be based on time of day and how many flights there are daily.
NYC to NH? Depends on time of day as to how crowded.
Stay safe!
NKP guy Good question. Here's how I'm thinking about it: I'm in a bedroom, both ways. Alone. I'm wearing a mask most of the 12 hours I'm in that room. The Viewliner sleeper will probably not be full and the ventilation seems as safe as can be expected. I don't have to go to the Trough Car (former dining car) unless I want to. If I take a plane it's 90 minutes in a very crowded space. By taking the train my exposure is much longer but, I would think, considerably more limited. A bus combines the worst of both options. I have no interest in driving. What would you do? ("Anyone?...anyone?...") A second trip I'm considering is NYP to New Haven. I have more trepidation about this than the Cleveland - NYP segment because it's in an "open" car. Comments?
OK, first I just did it in May and end of June. You do not need to wear a mask in a sleeping car compartment. I have no clue about Viewliner ventilation but the Superliners were designed to evacuate cigarette smoke especially in the Lounge and Dining Car so those two ventilation systems are pretty powerful. Your only going to probably see 50% occupancy of the sleeper at best.
On the air travel option, have no clue where you live but I believe the first class dreamliner 787 seats are far enough apart, especially if your wearing a mask all the time. So as of today there is one 787 RT between Dallas and Chicago for me on American. If I really needed to fly but I don't. That flight was not there back when I rode the Texas Eagle in May and June.
The other thing your going to find is all the local businesses that have shut down. Including a lot of the local rental car offerings. Lyft and Uber are also highly unreliable as are some of the Taxis that used to be there. If you need a car service make the reservations in advance and make sure you get a confirmation back.
NKP guy I'm in a bedroom, both ways. Alone. I'm wearing a mask most of the 12 hours I'm in that room.
Why would you wear a mask alone in your own (Amtrak) bedroom? I'm not a doctor, but I would think that wearing a mask in your sleep might be a choking hazard, if not a breathing hazard.
Several friends that had to fly in May and early June said the crew was either one third or one quarter of the amount of the pasengers on the flights. I don't know whether or not that's now typical. Last time I flew in March there were about 25 passengers for over 160 seats.
MidlandMikeI'm not a doctor, but I would think that wearing a mask in your sleep might be a choking hazard, if not a breathing hazard.
The usual sort of little surgical mask with loops over the ears and pull-down pleats is unlikely to cause breathing difficulty in sleep. Heavier ones with, say, N95 filtration might be a slightly different story, and full-face respirator masks of the kind used for hazardous-material handling (or actual protection against dangerous airborne virus like H1N1) much more so... but presumably what he has is the simple paper absorber for exhaled droplets, to prevent pre-diagnosed spread to surfaces in the room or the circulated ventilation air. That kind should be relatively easy to tolerate in sleep.
I recommend not wearing a mask in a private sleeper room with the door shut. If the ventilation system is not safe, and it probably is safe because even recirculated air is filtered, the mask won't help you much. Wear the mask before opening the door for any reason.
Have meals delivered to your room.
daveklepperIf the ventilation system is not safe, and it probably is safe because even recirculated air is filtered, the mask won't help you much.
I cannot argue with you. But I have tried various masks, and wearing any of them for more than an hour or two makes me uncomfortable. So I wear one when it appears prudent to do so and/or when it is required by law. I do not wear one in my own apartment. At the Yeshiva, I wear one when social distancing is not practical and/or when the teacher or rabbi wears one. But you are right, and I am compromising the safety of my health for the sake of comfort, and in an Amtrak private room, I would do the same.
Outside the Yeshiva and my apartment, 100% Even when social-distancing is possible on buses. It is no longer possible on the light rail as business has increased and service is not back up to normal.
And the law requires mask wearing on public transportation anyway.
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