VIA Rail announces mandatory vaccination policy for riders
VIA Rail Canada will require proof of Covid vaccination from all passengers 12 years of age and older beginning next month. Through November, riders will be given time to be vaccinated and only a negative Covid test within 72 hours of travel time will be required. As of November 30th, all passengers must be fully vaccinated and negative tests will no longer be accepted. Employees who have not at least received their first dose by November 15th will be put on administrative leave. Masks and pre-boarding health checks will continue to be required. [progressiverailroading.com]
DC Metro budget proposes fare discounts to bring back riders
Washington DC’s Metro has proposed a 2022 budget that includes incentives designed to bring riders back as the transit system continues its recovery from the pandemic. Among fare cuts are a $2 late-night rail fare for one-way trips from 9:30 p.m. until close. The costs of Metro’s monthly passes and seven-day unlimited passes would also be reduced. The proposed budget goes on to detail Metro’s economic recovery projections, with the agency saying it expects Covid to continue to have an impact through fiscal year 2023 and beyond. [wtop.com]
Germany’s Deutsche Bahn to get multi-billion euro bailout
Germany’s rail operator, Deutsche Bahn, is set to receive some €2.1 billion ($2.4 billion) in bailout cash from the federal government. The emergency funds come after a catastrophic 18 months for Deutsche Bahn, with the coronavirus pandemic resulting in plummeting passenger numbers. DB’s losses reached €2.9 billion in 2020 and €1.4 billion for the first half of this year. The company had already announced a major fare hike as of December 2021 in an attempt to bridge the gap. Deutsche Bahn has a near total monopoly on Germany’s rails, particularly for long-distance passenger travel. [dw.com]
Seattle expanding free transit for students to help cut emissions
Seattle will offer free public transportation to thousands of students as part of a series of newly introduced climate-oriented policies, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has announced.The mayor issued an executive order requiring the city to provide ORCA cards, which are used to access public transit in Washington’s Puget Sound region, to an additional 8,000 middle school students, 15,000 high school students and more than 1,000 college students. [thehill.com]
