Amtrak Downeaster Discussion Thread

[Maverickstation1]

Here is a link to the story as reported by the Portland Press Herald:

https://www.pressherald.com/2020/04/04/ ... -covid-19/

Stay safe everyone.

Ken

[markhb]

Here is a link to the story as reported by the Portland Press Herald:

https://www.pressherald.com/2020/04/04/ ... -covid-19/

One point in the story that wasn't previously noted: they're closing the cafe as well.

[superstar]

Service suspended 4/13 through at least 4/30.

[MEC407]

"And then there were none."

[gokeefe]

If I recall correctly the only other comparable service suspension was during the Democratic National Convention in 2004.

[charlesriverbranch]

Service suspended 4/13 through at least 4/30.

According to my girlfriend, who is an employee of the Maine state legislature, the decision was made by NNEPRA in response to declining ridership.

[gokeefe]

Must have been closing in on 0.

[Backshophoss]

That should make the constant critic cowford happy!

[gokeefe]

I doubt it.

[Cowford]

Backshop, none of the economic and emotional hardship most of us is experiencing right now is making me happy.

[trainhq]

Well, the bigger question all this raises, isn't what happens when the service is suspended, it's
what happens when it comes back. I mean Amtrak has spent nearly 20 years building ridership,
especially on this route. How many people will ride it again when they get it going again, maybe
in late summer? (They'll likely miss the summer peak).

[Hux]

Within two months of whenever service is booted up I’d say it will be at 75% and close to pre-pandemic numbers by six months. No doubt that masks will be in full use until such time as a vaccine is widely available.

[gokeefe]

Concur. They've bounced back before and they'll do it again. This isn't the bad old days of the Boston & Maine running a rickety RDC to an asphalt platform off Congress Street.

[west point]

Right now there is worry that a vaccine may only keep you immune for 1 - 3 years. If that is so all bets are off for airlines and Amtrak in this country

[MEC407]

How is that any different than the flu vaccine? Most of us get flu shots every fall; I get mine at the drugstore, it takes about five minutes and my insurance covers it 100% with no copay. If I have to get a coronavirus shot every fall in addition to a flu shot, I'm totally OK with that. I imagine most people would be.