With June being designated National Safety Month, Amtrak officials said it is advocating rail safety onboard trains, in stations, and near tracks.
“National Safety Month is an annual opportunity to remind our employees, customers, and the public about the importance of rail safety,” said Amtrak President and CEO Bill Flynn said. “In addition to that critical information, we also recognize that traveling this summer will come with unique challenges, and we want customers to feel secure knowing that we have implemented vital safety measures for everyone’s well-being.”
Amtrak’s safety initiatives include limiting ticket sales on reserved services to allow for physical distancing while traveling; initiating enhanced cleaning and disinfecting frequency and retrofitted protective barriers where necessary; displaying signage at the busiest stations to indicate safe distances in high traffic areas while installing clear protective barriers at customer counters; and temporarily offering flexible dining service in the dining or lounge car on all long-distance routes while encouraging Sleeping Car customers to select optional room service.
The carrier is requiring all customers and employees to wear facial coverings while in stations and on trains or thruway buses. The coverings can be removed when customers are in their private rooms or seated alone. Amtrak is also encouraging passengers to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Additionally, Amtrak is partnering with Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), a national, nonprofit safety education group, to eliminate deaths and injuries at railroad crossings and along railroad rights-of-way, urging action to prevent such as a result of high-risk behavior on or near crossings and tracks.