Uploaded March 2021 | Updated September 2026, 6 hours ago
I love traveling Amtrak and I need Amtrak to get me to Illinois. I have made two roundtrips on the Sothwest Chief during this pandemic. One back in Sept 2020 and another in March 2021. On the recent trip I noticed while booking a ticket that Amtrak is strict with their mask-wearing policies and stress to folks IF YOU ARE SICK DON'T TRAVEL! That should always be a no-brainer even without a pandemic. I confess that pre-pandemic I sometimes would wear a mask if someone around me was coughin and sneezing. That shit absolutely drives me nuts. Anyway I wish Amtrak's strict policies were enforced more rigidly on the train and I advise Amtrak conductors to give a one-minute presentation in each car (eight cars= eight minutes or so) on mask-wearing. A little sign should be shown to the peoplethat says, "Wear your mask at all times." Ask some passengers what does that statement mean? See if they can figure it out. I observed several people pulling their masks down while playing games, sleeping, reading and even walking through the cars. Amtrak passengers represent a small microcosm of Americans. And just as America has done the worst in the pandemic world wide it shows on these train trips. Sadly some conductors are not stern enough on enforcing the federal law of mask wearing on the train. I wore my N95 the whole thirty hours as many people did. You can even eat with the mask on. Did you know that? Simply have the food in front of you, slip the mask down for three seconds, take a bite, pull the mask up and chew for twenty five seconds and repeat. Learn not to breath in when eating the bite. No sense being a vaccum cleaner of contaminants during those few seconds you are taking a bite. One dude in his twenties was walking up and down the train maskless. he looked spaced out and unhealthy. FInally, after seeing hoim pace the cars too many times I said, Hey buddy, here's an extra mask I have, take it." He took it without getting upset and I seen him wearing it after that. This should have been the conductors job and I hope Amtrak has a dozen extra masks for folks who accidently lose their mask, have it blow off them and under the train, flushed down the toilet, ripped off their face by a "Karen" or pro-trumper etc. On Amtrak it's the law. Amtrak needs to reinforce it. Conductors need to watch for this. We are still in a pandemic. Even without a pandemic it is wise to wear one. Other societies do and they are less sick. America has a problem. Anyway, through my many trips on Amtrak during the pandemic I want you to know you can travel safely by wearing a good mask, and safety glasses. (Yes the virus can get into your eyes) ANd practice breathing techniques when eating. Keep the mask on mostly when eating. All male and female "Karens" need to learn that you can actually talk on a phnone with a mask on. Revolutionary. Stay safe America. Be smart. Amtrak can do better to make sure they reinforce their very own guidelines. If they can remove smokers from the train then they can remove anti-maskers from the train. Right now the corona virus is more deadlier than the smoke.
I love traveling Amtrak and I need Amtrak to get me to Illinois. I have made two roundtrips on the Sothwest Chief during this pandemic. One back in Sept 2020 and another in March 2021. On the recent trip I noticed while booking a ticket that Amtrak is strict with their mask-wearing policies and stress to folks IF YOU ARE SICK DON'T TRAVEL! That should always be a no-brainer even without a pandemic. I confess that pre-pandemic I sometimes would wear a mask if someone around me was coughin and sneezing. That shit absolutely drives me nuts. Anyway I wish Amtrak's strict policies were enforced more rigidly on the train and I advise Amtrak conductors to give a one-minute presentation in each car (eight cars= eight minutes or so) on mask-wearing. A little sign should be shown to the peoplethat says, "Wear your mask at all times." Ask some passengers what does that statement mean? See if they can figure it out. I observed several people pulling their masks down while playing games, sleeping, reading and even walking through the cars. Amtrak passengers represent a small microcosm of Americans. And just as America has done the worst in the pandemic world wide it shows on these train trips. Sadly some conductors are not stern enough on enforcing the federal law of mask wearing on the train. I wore my N95 the whole thirty hours as many people did. You can even eat with the mask on. Did you know that? Simply have the food in front of you, slip the mask down for three seconds, take a bite, pull the mask up and chew for twenty five seconds and repeat. Learn not to breath in when eating the bite. No sense being a vaccum cleaner of contaminants during those few seconds you are taking a bite. One dude in his twenties was walking up and down the train maskless. he looked spaced out and unhealthy. FInally, after seeing hoim pace the cars too many times I said, Hey buddy, here's an extra mask I have, take it." He took it without getting upset and I seen him wearing it after that. This should have been the conductors job and I hope Amtrak has a dozen extra masks for folks who accidently lose their mask, have it blow off them and under the train, flushed down the toilet, ripped off their face by a "Karen" or pro-trumper etc. On Amtrak it's the law. Amtrak needs to reinforce it. Conductors need to watch for this. We are still in a pandemic. Even without a pandemic it is wise to wear one. Other societies do and they are less sick. America has a problem. Anyway, through my many trips on Amtrak during the pandemic I want you to know you can travel safely by wearing a good mask, and safety glasses. (Yes the virus can get into your eyes) ANd practice breathing techniques when eating. Keep the mask on mostly when eating. All male and female "Karens" need to learn that you can actually talk on a phnone with a mask on. Revolutionary. Stay safe America. Be smart. Amtrak can do better to make sure they reinforce their very own guidelines. If they can remove smokers from the train then they can remove anti-maskers from the train. Right now the corona virus is more deadlier than the smoke.
