Sunday rail news related to the coronavirus pandemic:
— D.C. Metro will further reduce rail and bus service on Monday, with rail service ending at 9 p.m. and bus service ending at 11 p.m. Service will begin at 5 a.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. on weekends. In announcing the cuts, Metro said the decision “reflects a significant drop-off in ridership since Metro begin asking riders to limit use of the system to ‘essential trips only’ “ and that the drop-off has been particularly acute after 9 p.m.
— The Prairie Dog Central Railway, a tourist railroad near Winnipeg, Manitoba, has delayed the start its 2020 operating season because of the COVID-19 virus, the Winnipeg Sun reports. The railway has currently cancelled its three scheduled trains in May and three scheduled trains in June. No decision has been made on trains in July through October; it is monitoring the situation on a daily basis. Updated information is available on the railway’s website or Facebook page. The railroad has donated latex gloves and eye-protective equipment usually used by its workers to a regional medical facility.
— A dozen CSX Transportation employees have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, including one in the railroad’s headquarters city of Jacksonville, Fla., Jacksonville TV station WJXT reports. Coworkers who may have had contact with those affected have entered self-quarantine.
— A second VIA Rail Canada employee has tested positive for the coronavirus. The worker, based in the storage room of VIA’s Montreal maintenance center, has not been at work since reporting flu-like symptoms on April 1. Three coworkers who had been in direct contact with the infected worker have been in self-isolation since April 1, according to the Toronto Star.
— Updated April 8 to reflect correction of source article on Prairie Dog Central.
In regards to the item about the Prairie Dog Central Railway’s operating season, I have been asked to provide the following comment on behalf of the organization: “The Prairie Dog Central Railway has currently cancelled the 3 scheduled trains in May and the 3 scheduled trains in June. No decision has been made regarding the train running in July, August, September and October. We are hoping to run during the 2020 season however we are monitoring the situation on a daily basis. Updated information regarding the 2020 season will be posted on our website, pdcrailway.com or on our Facebook page.”
because motels use mattresses by the trainload?
seriously, CSX illustrates another hazard of having all the dispatchers in one room. *cough cough*
W Cook…first off, we’d need to know how long it survives on porous materials like cloth, I’m going to guess at a maximum 24 hours(like it does on cardboard) if not less. Secondly, why wouldn’t changing the bed linens help? You’ve just removed the linens a POTENTIALLY infected person came in contact with and replaced them with clean linens…unless the maid can transfer them from the dirty set to the clean set. People really need to learn some facts and think first before commenting…of course where the comment about motel mattresses even came from is just as baffling.
Anyone who sleeps on a motel mattress will likely become infected is my guess. Changing sheet will not kill the virus without a strong ultraviolet light treatment to clean the mattress. Or only use the room once a week. New business for cleaning services of motels.