WASHINGTON — Amtrak will continue to welcome mask use in stations and aboard trains but will not require it following a Monday ruling by a Florida judge striking down the federal mask mandate. But some public transit agencies indicated they would leave their mask rule in place, at least temporarily.
The government had just extended the mask rule for trains, airplanes, public transit, and other forms of transportation by 15 days, but U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle struck down the rule Monday, terming it “unlawful.” NPR reports the Transportation Security Administration will no longer enforce the rule while government agencies are reviewing Monday’s ruling “and assessing potential next steps.”
Amtrak noted the mask rule had been lifted in a Monday statement, while continuing to invite the use of face coverings.
“While Amtrak passengers and employees are no longer required to wear masks while on board trains or in stations, masks are welcome and remain an important preventive measure against COVID-19,” the statement reads. “Anyone needing or choosing to wear one is encouraged to do so.”
New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority will continue its mask requirement, WNYW-TV reports. An MTA spokesman cited a March ruling by the New York State Department of Health as the reason the agency will continue to require masks.
Other agencies which indicated they would continue to require masks, at least in the short term, include Metra and the Chicago Transit Authority; and TriMet of Portland, Ore. NJ Transit initially said it would continue to require masks, but Gov. Phil Murphy said he was lifting the requirement. Some other agencies said they were seeking further information before determining the status of their mask policies.
— Updated at 7:15 a.m. CDT to reflect end of mask requirement on NJ Transit.
Back in the days when smoking was permitted on trains, they had no-smoking cars. They have quiet cars today. Why not have designated cars on which everyone must wear a mask?
Indeed, something to consider if Amtrak fields enough cars, especially on the LDs, in order to manage it.
As a physician, a railroad enthusiast and a transportation poet-writer, I sincerely wish and hope that the cunning and notorious SARS-CoV-2 has completely forgotten to mutate (in the United States and the rest of the globe)!
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
First Biden says it’s now up to the individual whether or not to wear a mask.
Then a few hours later, DOJ appeals the ruling.
It’s no longer a joke about the Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny really is in charge of US Government now.
Those who choose to not wear a mask are not exercising “freedom” but possibly damaging the health of others.
Nonsense.
KN95 will work for you if you wear them. Eventually, they too degrade. There are respirators that will work well and I have seen some folks wear them. However, the judge did not decide on effacy of mask wearing. Only that the government agency had no authority to decree such mandate.
No mask, I’m !
Does anyone know if Amtrak is offering refunds? I have a ticket for a trip next month and I do not plan to take it now. I expect that they will because things changed with no advance notice. It was to be my first Amtrak trip in over two years but now it’s back to the automobile for me.
Robert, still wear your mask if you chose; get a sleeping compartment or a business class seat or a lower level Superliner coach seat depending on where you’re going to minimize exposure but most of all enjoy your planned train ride and all the fun that goes with it. You may not get another chance again. My family and I have never missed a beat riding the train around the country these last 2+ years. Now it’s even more fun to have full trains and more normal activities occurring in and around stations. Going to Flagstaff next week and on to the Verde Canyon Railroad near Sedona, AZ for a 4 hour trip amongst the Red Rocks. We can’t wait and I hope you will reconsider.
Good news and it is about time. Do we really want to be masked up and live in fear for the rest of our lives? If you choose to wear a mask that is your right, but don’t make the rest of us do the same. There has been so many scientific studies on masks with no clear cut answer as to whether they work or not. I think we can all agree that Covid is not going away and we are going to have to live with it. Again, if you fell comfortable wearing one do it. I choose not to.
Of *course* you do. Regardless of whether you (or anyone around you) have children under 5, or elderly folks in your vicinity, of *course* you won’t wear a mask. “Me, Me, Me! I, I, I!”, the war cry of Gen X.
Mr Burns, For the record I am 74 years old and have had both vacs and one booster. I did so, so I could be around my grandchildren under the age of five. I have also worn a mask where it has been required. I practiced “social distancing” during the first months of the Pandemic. I obeyed the best I could to all the rules. I personally no longer think that masks and shutdowns work and believe they have done more harm than good. Just my opinion. I should also add I live in a 55+ community and know some who agree with me. I am also active outside the community and work with people of all ages. I feel safe around all I come in contact with. So I am not a GenX person and have never been an its all about me person. And of “course” I respect your opinions and needs even if I disagree with you. Respect mine and others Mr Burns. As I said in my original post there is no concrete evidence that masks work. And we had better learn to live with covid because its not going away. Have a good evening Mr Burns.
2. As someone with severe health conditions, I just wish changes were not so sudden or at least a passenger could get a refund if felt they could not travel without the mask mandate. Though also understand “justice” in theory should not be delayed. But being “forced to wear a mask” is not the same as being kept in prison when innocent.
METRA continues mask reqirement, like Philadelphia which is being laughed at by the rest of the state. And METRA wonders why it’s running at 30% of pre-COVID patronage …..
My guess is compliance on METRA trains will be negligible.
SEPTA dropped the mask mandate including inside their stations in Philadelphia. The City of Philadelphia imposed a mask mandate on all indoor spaces; SEPTA said they were federally regulated and no mask needed. Btfsplk* to Philly regulators.
At the Airport on the SEPTA train, no mask. In the City-owned terminal building, mask. In the airplane, no mask.
* Per Al Capp, pronounced like a Bronx Cheer.