Amtrak expects to cut service as vaccine requirement, hiring halt thins its workforce
CNN
Amtrak service will likely be reduced next year as it complies with the upcoming vaccine requirement for federal workers.
Amtrak president Stephen Gardner testified before a House of Representatives committee Thursday that the passenger rail operator does not anticipate having enough employees to run all trains when the mandate takes effect January 4.
He said that 94% of its employees are fully vaccinated and 96% have received at least one dose, which is similar to the vaccination rates of other federal workers. Many engineers, conductors and employees retired or left Amtrak during the pandemic, he said. Amtrak is currently recruiting and hiring today, but it had halted hiring due to funding uncertainty and social distancing requirements that hampered its training.