Ferroequinologist
Lead Service Attendant
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2016
- Messages
- 374
This morning's Wall Street Journal includes an article on the likelihood that Covid-19 is becoming endemic, i.e. that it may be here indefinitely. The New York Times this morning writes about the British variant of the virus which is rapidly spreading in the US. Meanwhile last week there were many reports that the vaccines may not prevent transmission. All of this points to the likelihood that social distancing and masks are permanent. What does this mean for Amtrak? First of all, it seems realistic to conclude that the dining-car will never return. Even before Covid there were reports of passengers, especially younger ones, who did not like sitting with strangers. That aside, the reality now is that it is unsafe to do so and may remain so for a very long time, possibly forever. It seems much more likely that Amtrak will have to focus on improving food quality both in cafe cars which will provide take out service and for 1st class passengers who will be served in their rooms. Another factor that will need to be addressed is that of shared toilets. If anything has improved in recent decades, it is in the standard of bathroom amenities. Both homes and hotels now emphasize comfortable and well equipped bathrooms. People have come to expect a high standard. This makes the use of shared toilets for long distance passengers all the less acceptable. Amtrak will need to reconfigure its next sleeping car order to include in room toilets, preferably en suite (enclosed in a separate room as in existing Bedrooms). With Covid and its variants likely to be around for decades, if not forever, Amtrak will have to incorporate health safety measures into the design of its equipment and service model. What do readers of this website think? How do they think Amtrak should adapt to the changing social conditions Covid has created?