Amtrak Ops

[Btoth566]

Any idea when Amtrak might get back to a full schedule on the Michigan Line? Been wanting to take my 3 year old on a short out and back ride but I can’t keep him occupied for 12 hours somewhere waiting for a return trip.

[Saturnalia]

Any idea when Amtrak might get back to a full schedule on the Michigan Line? Been wanting to take my 3 year old on a short out and back ride but I can’t keep him occupied for 12 hours somewhere waiting for a return trip.

At this point, given Amtrak's stance on Long Distance trains, and the state and forecast of the pandemic, I would say no earlier than the 2nd Quarter of 2021. Maybe there's a shot at March, if we're extremely lucky with COVID's progression and vaccine. Honestly given the IHME's forecast it isn't exactly a given that there won't be another round of significant service curtailments from Dec-Feb.

[Btoth566]

Thanks, I figured the answer was something like that. Worth a try though.

[ns8401]

Any idea when Amtrak might get back to a full schedule on the Michigan Line? Been wanting to take my 3 year old on a short out and back ride but I can’t keep him occupied for 12 hours somewhere waiting for a return trip.

At this point, given Amtrak's stance on Long Distance trains, and the state and forecast of the pandemic, I would say no earlier than the 2nd Quarter of 2021. Maybe there's a shot at March, if we're extremely lucky with COVID's progression and vaccine. Honestly given the IHME's forecast it isn't exactly a given that there won't be another round of significant service curtailments from Dec-Feb.

Probably more like mid-2022. People have to be willing to get into an enclosed space enough to regularly sell out or nearly sell out the first train before you justify adding more. They’ll get away with one for as long as they can.

[Ypsi]

Probably more like mid-2022. People have to be willing to get into an enclosed space enough to regularly sell out or nearly sell out the first train before you justify adding more. They’ll get away with one for as long as they can.

Americans are more than willing to cram together in small spaces.. just look to reported cases

**note this is not a political statement, just observation of "reported cases".

[GP30M4216]

https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2 ... rvice.html

On the upside, less trains means more time to get work done! A second round trip would be nice, though.

[ns8401]

Probably more like mid-2022. People have to be willing to get into an enclosed space enough to regularly sell out or nearly sell out the first train before you justify adding more. They’ll get away with one for as long as they can.

Americans are more than willing to cram together in small spaces.. just look to reported cases

**note this is not a political statement, just observation of "reported cases".

But as with buses and planes they do not seem willing to ride in a steel tube for any length... that demand will return reeeeaaaalllllyyyy sloooowwwwllllyyyy...

[ConrailDetr​oit]

Probably more like mid-2022. People have to be willing to get into an enclosed space enough to regularly sell out or nearly sell out the first train before you justify adding more. They’ll get away with one for as long as they can.

Americans are more than willing to cram together in small spaces.. just look to reported cases

**note this is not a political statement, just observation of "reported cases".

But weren't mask mandates supposed to prevent spread / infection. Like in restaurants.

[DaveO]

Probably more like mid-2022. People have to be willing to get into an enclosed space enough to regularly sell out or nearly sell out the first train before you justify adding more. They’ll get away with one for as long as they can.

Americans are more than willing to cram together in small spaces.. just look to reported cases

**note this is not a political statement, just observation of "reported cases".

But weren't mask mandates supposed to prevent spread / infection. Like in restaurants.

NO. The purpose of masks is to slow the spread. To keep our health care system from collapsing. Which if that happened, would result in many more deaths as appropriate care would not be available to all that would need it.

[ConrailDetr​oit]

So the takeaway is masks only slow and not prevent the spread. Which means the only 100% guarantee to prevent the spread is much more extreme social distancing than the current mandates, which still may not be enough for practical reasons to life. Six feet is not enough outdoors, especially if the wind is blowing. Being in the same room as someone else with a mask is not enough indoors, since the mask only slows the spread and does not prevent the spread.

So no packing trains with mask wearing passengers while seated how ever many seats apart. And no dining car on trains either. Since spread is also possible and more probable while eating / drinking.

The words Safe and Healthy have taken on a new definition in the past 7 months. When is the game over?

[Steve B]

One could also say that seat belts don't prevent all traffic fatalities, but it's still advisable to wear one. A key reason we wear masks is to minimize situations like the following. These aren't fake patients or fake symptoms:

[MP73point4]

One could also say that seat belts don't prevent all traffic fatalities, but it's still advisable to wear one. A key reason we wear masks is to minimize situations like the following. These aren't fake patients or fake symptoms:Screenshot_20201027-092859.png

Excellent analogy. With citizenship and rights come responsibility.

[Saturnalia]

One could also say that seat belts don't prevent all traffic fatalities, but it's still advisable to wear one. A key reason we wear masks is to minimize situations like the following. These aren't fake patients or fake symptoms:Screenshot_20201027-092859.png

Excellent analogy. With citizenship and rights come responsibility.

I keep on saying this: the core of a free society and conservatism is personal responsibility, because they rely on the people largely regulating themselves. If you actually need the government to make you do a basic health and safety thing like wear a mask, then it only undercuts the argument that the government should stay out of the way.

[Steve B]

One could also say that seat belts don't prevent all traffic fatalities, but it's still advisable to wear one. A key reason we wear masks is to minimize situations like the following. These aren't fake patients or fake symptoms:Screenshot_20201027-092859.png

Excellent analogy. With citizenship and rights come responsibility.

I keep on saying this: the core of a free society and conservatism is personal responsibility, because they rely on the people largely regulating themselves. If you actually need the government to make you do a basic health and safety thing like wear a mask, then it only undercuts the argument that the government should stay out of the way.

Let's get rid of all stop signs and traffic lights too. After all, they're just basic health and safety things, can't we just regulate ourselves at the intersection?

[~Z~]

Appears we've wandered off topic just a hair.....
This thread sucks; locking, thank you, drive thru.