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Amtrak slashes service, suspends some cafe cars

Jeff Clabaugh | @wtopclabaugh

March 16, 2020, 8:50 AM

Amtrak continues to see a significant decline in travel demand, and has now reduced Northeast Corridor service to approximately 40% of its typical weekday service, amid ongoing concerns about the spread of coronavirus.

Cafe car service between D.C. and New York is suspended on some trains.

Amtrak has also waived change fees on existing reservations and new reservations made before April 30, and said it will notify passengers with existing reservations if their trip is affected by schedule changes. Amtrak said it will accommodate those travelers on trains with similar departure times or another day.

Earlier this month, Amtrak suspended its three daily nonstop Acela trains between D.C. and New York.

Last week Amtrak said reservations are down 50% from this time last year across the Northeast Corridor and its national network.

Amtrak to cut Northeast Corridor trains by 60% as demand drops due to the coronavirus

Curtis Tate USA TODAY
Published 6:01 p.m. ET Mar. 15, 2020

Amtrak is cutting its frequency on the Northeast Corridor by 60% of its typical weekday schedules between Boston, New York and Washington Monday in response to plummeting demand due to the coronavirus.

Amtrak said Sunday that its Acela Express and Northeast Regional trains would continue to operate but at significantly lower frequencies. The railroad said in an email to employees last week that bookings had dropped 50% while cancellations had soared 300%.

Americans are sharply curtailing their travel in response to public health advisories, as well as canceled conferences, festivals, concerts and sports events.

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