One of the best ways to explore America is by train. Instead of queuing at airports and being crammed on a plane, or self-driving the highways and byways, a train lets you relax and watch the passing scenery as you go. Now, after a year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Amtrak has fully restored the daily service for twelve of its long-distance routes across the US.
Explore The US In Comfort By Train
Amtrak returns to its normal daily schedules for twelve long-distance routes across the country starting in May 2021. The daily schedules will be grouped into three phases.
May 24 will see the first phase with the launch of the services of the Coast Starlight, California Zephyr, Empire Builder, and Texas Eagle. The second phase starts on May 31, with the City of New Orleans, Capitol Limited, Southwest Chief, and Lake Shore Limited taking off. The third phase of restoration of services is set for June 7, with Crescent, Silver Meteor, Palmetto, and Silver Star services restored.
Amtrak Destinations And Schedule Maintained
As for the schedule, all the destinations and scheduled departure and arrival times on the long-distance network are to be maintained. Amtrak will also continue to operate the Cardinal and Sunset Limited trains tri-weekly as well as the daily Auto Train.
When making the announcement, Amtrak CEO, Bill Fly, said, “Offering daily long-distance service represents a vital step in our road to recovery.” He added that recognizing the immense value of their staff, they would like to thank Congress for “enabling service restoration and helping us recall furloughed employees.”
COVID-19 Safety And Health Measures On Amtrak
Naturally, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Amtrak’s safety and cleaning measures will be at the forefront. Amtrak requires all customers and employees to wear face masks or face coverings while onboard the trains and in the stations.
Bookings have been limited on most of the trains to allow for more social distancing in the seating areas. The train service has also implemented enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols at all stations and onboard all its trains. The trains are also equipped with onboard filtration systems with a fresh air exchange rate every four to five minutes.
Travel In Privacy And Style
For true social distancing and privacy, Amtrak offers private room accommodations on many of its routes across the country. The private rooms are located in the Sleeping Car and add comfort and amenities while traveling overnight. A number of different room options are available to suit every traveler, family, or group.
Roomettes are one of the options, which feature two comfortable seats during the day, converting to an upper and lower berth at night. Each has a large picture window and offers fresh towels and linens. The rooms also offer access to a private restroom and shower.
Another benefit of traveling in a private room is the fact that all meals are included in the price. Amtrak’s onboard dining services provide a menu with a variety of options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Find out more information on the schedules and other details on the Amtrak website.
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