COVID sick calls force Amtrak to cut schedules
A surge in coronavirus infections among Amtrak employees has created a staffing shortage and forced the passenger railroad to reduce service beginning Monday on the busy Washington-to-Boston corridor.
While about 97% of Amtrak employees are fully vaccinated, several hundred workers – including conductors, engineers and mechanics – have been hit by infections or exposures as caseloads of the highly transmissible omicron variant remain elevated nationwide, railroad officials said.
Service cuts this week in the Northeast Corridor will affect 8% of weekly departures. The cutbacks will continue through March 27, Amtrak said.