— Eight workers for New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority are now reported to have died of complications from the COVID-19 virus, Spectrum News reports. As of Monday, the agency has 333 confirmed cases of the virus and 2,700 workers in quarantine. While the MTA has acquired 75,000 disposable surgical masks for use by employees, the New York Daily News reports, the head of the Transportation Workers Union Local 100 said he believes the fatalities and spread of the disease among workers “could have been mitigated” if such protective equipment had been available sooner.
— Amtrak is reducing bookings in coach and business classes to 50% of capacity to accommodate social-distance guidelines as part of its latest update to measures addressing operation during the coronavirus outbreak. The passenger railroad has also extended its waiver of change fees on existing or new reservations through May 31.
— VIA Rail Canada has outlined its procedures to meet a Canadian government directive to screen passengers for those exhibiting symptoms of the COVID-19 virus. CTV News reports that workers at Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and Quebec City will ask questions including:
– Do you have a fever or cough?
– Do you have breathing difficulties?
– Have you been refused boarding by a company or any other carrier in the last 14 days due to a medical reason related to the COVID-19?
– Are you subject to a provincial or local public health order?
Rules that went into effect at noon on Monday ban domestic travel in Canada for those exhibiting symptoms of the virus.
— Eighteen workers for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority have tested positive for the coronavirus, the Boston Globe reports, including two rail operators, a rail yard worker, and a subway supervisor. The MBTA and the union representing operators are negotiating about additional protective measures for workers, while the union representing bus maintenance workers is seeking more protective equipment.
Mr. McFarlane please refer to the to comment criteria above. thank you
My condolences to the MTA families.
Rhode Island stopped checking any NYC/NJ plates and are now checking everyone at their borders. Florida is still screening people at I-95 and I-10.
Arthur Hazeldine,
Your suggestions are completely impractical and asinine besides, not only lacking common sense but just reckless besides. Come on people, wake up, already 20% of Americans are saying they’re going to wait 4 months before flying again…are we mice or are we humans?
How about after things reopen, we allow kids to sit in every third car on a roller coaster. Or how about we remove 2/3 of the seats on planes, trains & buses. In fact, lets remove 2/3 of the chairs & benches in all theaters, restaurants, churches. All in the name of anti-social distancing. Oh, one more thing, before allowed in any of the above places, you have to pass the temperature police. Good luck with that plan. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but I’m afraid we may never return to normal after this. Hope I’m wrong.
Wall Street is “suggesting” that corporations don’t draw on their credit facilities they have with banks. Now we have to ask what is going to happen with the debt offering for Virgin Trains in Las Vegas? Virgin (Brightline) got their bonds sold last year for the WPB to Orlando leg. Will the economy kill the Vegas line?
Also are the Canadian lines going to have liquidity issues due to the 2019 strikes and protests just prior to the virus issues. Will traffic recover enough to support post virus cash flow requirements?
2H-2020 is going to be an interesting year in railroads.
G&W management sold and got out at a perfect time.If the new owners weren’t planning to break it up, lets see what happens now!
Arthur, the protocol that you suggest is unworkable. Asymptomatic persons can still transmit the virus, unknowingly spreading disease. That’s why social distancing is imperative.
I feel bad for the MTA workers who sadly did not recover from the virus. I would like to see temperature screenings at all airports, as well as train and subway stations. Once reopened, I would also like to see temp screenings at all theme parks and other entertainment venues. Anyone with a fever or anyone with cough or sneezing with a fever would not be granted access.