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Amtrak canceling nonstop Acela between New York and DC after coronavirus concerns reduce demand

Amtrak canceling nonstop Acela between New York and DC after coronavirus concerns reduce demand

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The rail company will waive change fees through April 30th

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Amtrak Makes Boarding Process Easier
Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Amtrak is canceling its Acela nonstop service between Washington DC and New York, because of reduced demand due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Washington Post reports.

“We are closely monitoring the coronavirus and are taking action based on guidance from public health experts,” the company said in a statement.

The Acela service will be suspended beginning March 10th until May 26th. The company says it anticipates other possible temporary adjustments to its schedule may be necessary as well.

Change fees for existing reservations and any new reservations for tickets purchased by April 30th have been waived. If a passenger books a new fare with a different price, they may have to pay the difference.

Amtrak is increasing its sanitation measures in light of coronavirus concerns, cleaning rails, handles, doorknobs, and other surfaces hourly in some situations. It’s also made sanitizers and disinfectant wipes available for customers and employees throughout its trains and stations, the company says.

In a statement emailed to The Verge, Amtrak says it is continuing to operate trains in the Northeast Corridor, including Acela trains between Washington DC and Boston. All of the temporarily suspended trains “have alternate options available within 30 minutes before and after their scheduled departures,” Amtrak says.

“With 110 daily trains, including at least two trains per hour throughout most of the day and hourly Acela service most of the day, customers continue to have plenty of options,” the company says.

Update March 8th, 2:09 PM ET: Added comment from Amtrak.