Amtrak Expects to Temporarily Slash Service over Biden Vaccine Mandate

Amtrak expects to temporarily cut some service next month as it warns of possible labor shortages due to the Biden administration’s coronavirus vaccine mandate which requires employees of government contractors to be fully jabbed by January 4th.

Bloomberg News reports:

As Amtrak prepares to comply with the federal vaccine mandate, it will likely need to temporarily reduce frequency, particularly on its long-distance services, Stephen J. Gardner, president of Amtrak, said in written testimony for a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing. About 94% of the rail company’s workers have been fully vaccinated as of this week. […] The problem is most acute on multi-day routes, where crew bases at some intermediate points have relatively lower rates of vaccinated employees.

“Achieving full service levels, while complying with the vaccination requirement and continuing to prioritize the safety of our customers and employees, is our goal,” Gardner testified.- READ MORE