Amtrak Will Furlough Over 2,000 Workers Because of the Coronavirus

Amtrak Will Furlough Over 2,000 Workers Because of the Coronavirus

The Coronavirus OutbreakliveLatest UpdatesMaps and CasesVaccine TrackerSecond Wave in SpainIn-Person School vs. RemoteThe job cuts come as the rail agency's response to fiscal challenges receives scrutiny from rail advocates and federal lawmakers.An Amtrak employee at Union Station in Washington, D.C. Ridership on relatively shorter routes like those in the Northeast Corridor is down more than 80 percent.Credit...Luke Sharrett for The New York TimesBy Pranshu VermaWASHINGTON “” Amtrak, the passenger railroad agency, will furlough over 2,000 workers in the coming weeks because of a steep decline in ridership and revenue caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to company officials.The job cuts represent nearly 10 percent of Amtrak's roughly 20,000-member work force and will take effect as the agency begins its new fiscal year, which starts in October. The rail agency will