The privately-run Florida passenger train service Brightline announced in its monthly report on August 7 that it has entirely ended its affiliation with the Virgin Group and will cease its rebranding to Virgin Trains USA, the Associated Press reported."Virgin no longer has any affiliation with us, our parents or its affiliate,“ Brightline stated in its report, but refrained from offering any details about what led to this decision. Trending Now The partnership formed less than two years ago between Brightline and English entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, which has been working to increase its U.S. holdings by recently launching a cruise line, Virgin Voyages, and expanding Virgin Hotels. A partnership with Brightline’s higher-speed train service would have given Virgin a toehold in the U.S. passenger rail market.For Brightline, the first company to introduce a new, private passenger rail service in a century, its association with the Virgin brand promised instant international recognition and was to include a minor, undisclosed investment from Branson. Reportedly, Forbes found in June that Brightline never saw that money.Brightline—which connects Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, with a future Orlando expansion in the works—has had to suspend operations since March, due to the pandemic. Nevertheless, the company has continued laying down the 170 miles of track for its expansion into Orlando and sustaining construction on the city’s new train station.There is currently no set date for the Orlando opening or for resuming rail operations, in light of America’s evolving COVID-19 situation. Outside of its Florida operations, Brightline is also working on a rail line that would connect Southern California straight to Las Vegas.Meanwhile, the Virgin Group has suffered a few other setbacks as of late. Virgin Atlantic filed for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. on August 4 after having already announced its restructuring plan in the U.K. in July. Its sister airline, Virgin Australia, likewise collapsed into administration in Australia while seeking economic aid back on April 21. Virgin Trains UK, the United Kingdom’s longest-running rail franchise discontinued its service in December 2019 after 22 years. Let's block ads! (Why?)

New data coming from search site VacationRenter shows that RV bookings are up by more than 300 percent amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which is working to keep leisure travel primarily terrestrial for the time being.After enduring months of stay-at-home orders and lockdowns, plenty of Americans are ready to take advantage of opportunities to hit the road, but not all of us had previously been particularly savvy about how to road-trip efficiently and enjoyably. MORE Car Rental & Rail For first-timers considering renting an RV to embark on a new, alternative kind of vacation experience, industry organization RVRD advises opting for the newest model available for whatever type of vehicle you select. Acquaint yourself with the different types of RV to find the one best suited to your purposes:Travel Trailer – Ranging in length, but generally mid-sized, these towable trailers typically sleep groups of three to six people.Fifth-Wheel Camper – A larger option, designed to be towed by a pickup, filled with amenities and sometimes luxury features, this one’s good for groups of four to eight occupants.Pop-Up Camper – A smaller, towable option that provides extra interior space when expanded, pop-ups are good if you just need a spot to sleep and, perhaps, cook for between one and three people.Class A Motorhome – This option will have ample space to accommodate a larger group, with sleeping and living areas, entertainment options and storage space.Class C Motorhome – A mid-size option between a Class A and Class B, good for groups of three to six, without the hassle of towing.Class B/‘Camper Van’ – Despite the alphabetical discontinuity, these are the smallest of the three classes, and offer few amenities, but great efficiency and maneuverability, even fitting into regular parking spots.Zander Buteux, VacationRenter’s Head of Organic Growth, and an RV-life aficionado himself, also weighed in with some expert tips for first-time RV renters, devised during his past six years spent traveling the U.S. in his own trusty van, “Layla”. PHOTO: An RV in Big Bend National Park, Texas. (photo via pchoui/iStock/Getty Images Plus) Things to Consider:Driving sizeButeux advises first-timers to start by considering the type of trip and routes they are planning to take, and allow that to dictate the size of the vehicle they’re renting. Different sizes and classes of RV will handle differently, with taller types requiring higher clearances and even rocking slightly as you go down the road. Take into the account whether you’ll be traversing steep or narrow roads, and the degree of maneuverability you’ll need and how much room you’ll need to park.Living SizeWhen selecting an RV, keep in mind that camper interiors are crafted foremost for efficiency. Buteux says, “While the exterior might look tiny, the interior is likely perfect for its use. Sometimes all you need is a little nook the size of a quad tent.” Obviously, bear in mind the number of people you’ll be bringing, but also the length of your trip and how that will affect the amount of space you need. And, when shopping interiors, also remember that the exterior size will determine what types of roads you can take.OverlandingIf you want a remote adventure and plan on pursuing any paths away from paved roads or highways, always ask the RV’s owner about whether this is an option. “Just because it looks capable of clearing rocks, ruts, and mud doesn’t mean it truly can or wants to do so,” says Buteux. “One of the ways to ask this is by saying, ‘I was thinking of disperse camping off the BLM roads in the National Forest. Is that okay? Have you done that before?'" PHOTO: Family RV road trip campsite. (Photo courtesy of iStock/Getty Images Plus/welcomia) EatingTake into account where you plan on eating, be it campgrounds with built-in grills or a spot deep in the woods where you’ll need to bring along everything for cooking. Your eating arrangements will partly determine what type of RV you get, as some come with kitchens and dining nooks, while others aren’t equipped with any such amenities and will require that you bring your own grill or stove setup along. There’s also the element of having to wash up afterward and where to store your food.LegalityGenerally, you can operate most sizes of RVs with a regular driver’s license, but there are exceptions. Do your research about the legality of driving your intended type of RV and be sure that you’re comfortable behind the wheel, as well. “Some Class A Campers are so massive on the road you need a CDL license. Before you get excited about that ‘sleeps ten’, make sure you are legally allowed to drive,” advises Buteux. Let's block ads! (Why?)

Rental car rates are down across the United States as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact travel. However, some cities have seen bigger drops in cost than others.While Detroit and Orlando are two very different cities, travelers might be surprised to know that the Theme Park Capital of the World is far cheaper than the Motor City when it comes to rental car rates this summer. Trending Now According to a new survey conducted by CheapCarRental.net, travelers visiting Detroit can expect to spend $446 per week on average for the most affordable available rental car this month compared to $120 in Orlando. The recent study examined 50 cities across the United States, looking at each destination's car rental rates across all national car rental companies, comparing rates at pick-up locations in urban hubs as well as airports for August 2020.Memphis ($425) and Philadelphia ($406) aren't far behind Detroit in terms of the priciest cities, with Kansas City ($385) and Pittsburgh ($352) rounding out the top five most-expensive U.S. destinations for car rentals this summer, followed by Indianapolis, Sacramento, New York City, Anchorage and Albuquerque—each of which comes in above $315 per week.When it comes to affordability, Florida and California dominate. Los Angeles is the second-cheapest city behind only Orlando with a per week average cost of $130, while Tampa ($157) and Miami ($163) are also extremely budget-friendly. Las Vegas, San Diego, San Francisco, Oakland and Jacksonville are also among the most affordable cities for a car rental this August, CheapCarRental.net found, offering average weekly rates at or below $200.Overall, rental car rates across the country are down by approximately 15 percent compared to this time last year, the website reports, with rates in places like Boston and Seattle down by nearly 40 percent heading into shoulder season this fall. Let's block ads! (Why?)

Eurail passes have finally begun to go digital.After being successfully tested during the month of June, the Italy Mobile Pass is currently available at the Eurail webshop. Later this year, the mobile version of the multi-country Global Passes, and additional One Country Passes, will also come online. MORE Car Rental & Rail These new passes will replace paper passes, and Eurail Pass holders will be able to manage their travels from their personal devices as they ride the rails across Italy.Now, rather than recording train information manually, the Rail Planner App digitally keeps track, and train inspectors scan a barcode to confirm the pass is valid.Carlo Boselli, the general manager at Eurail, said: “I could not be prouder of this milestone. Trenitalia was among the first European carriers to introduce e-ticketing for their national services years ago. They were also the first carrier to make seat reservations digitally available for our customers in the Rail Planner app. I look forward to extending this project with other carriers later this year.”The launch of the Mobile Pass is the first step toward digitalization of the brand’s 35 participating carriers throughout Europe which will negate the need for paper tickets. Let's block ads! (Why?)

The tourism industry may be taking a beating during the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, but the RV market is booming as cooped-up travelers find ways to safely explore the United States this summer.According to the RV Industry Association, more than 40,000 RVs were shipped to customers in June, a 10-percent increase compared to the same month in 2019 and a massive jump from the lowest total in April of just over 7,000 RVs being shipped. Trending Now The drastic drop started in March when the coronavirus-related travel restrictions were implemented and hit rock bottom in April, when the industry saw an 82 percent drop in sales compared to last year.In May, RV shipments spiked to around 28,000, but sales were still down nearly 30 percent.“We didn’t anticipate this turn being as strong as it has been,” RV Industry Association President Craig Kirby said. “People don’t want to fly, they don’t want to stay in a hotel. In an RV, you can cook your own meals and sleep in your own bed.”RV dealers are reporting between 50-80 percent of travelers purchasing the vehicles are doing so for the first time, according to KEYT.com. Officials said the number was between 25-35 percent at this time last year.For travelers looking to hit the road, TravelPulse’s Lauren Bowman has compiled a list of remarkable RV resorts and parks across America. Let's block ads! (Why?)

Amtrak today announced the expansion of its popular ‘Reserved Seating’ option (formerly called ‘Seat Assignment’) as the latest of its efforts aiming at delivering a ‘New Standard of Travel.’ Beginning August 3, Acela Business Class customers can take advantage of the Reserved Seating amenity without any extra fees.The Reserved Seating option offers one provision for passengers’ peace-of-mind while traveling amid the COVID-19 pandemic by enabling them to view and select their seats prior to departure, including those available in the Quiet Car. This affords them the advantage of seeing a snapshot of the overall passenger density in each car and the ability to choose a seating area accordingly, to support social distancing. Trending Now As part of Amtrak’s set of aggressively enhanced sanitation and safety protocols in place throughout its stations and trains, all passengers and employees are required to wear face masks or appropriate alternative face coverings while onboard trains and at stations.It’s also limiting bookings on most trains to allow adequate spacing in seating areas; ensuring air quality using onboard filtration systems that supply a fresh-air exchange rate of every four-to-five minutes; and monitoring social distancing in high-traffic areas, with plastic barriers installed at busy customer-service counters and signage in place to identify safe personal distances."As Amtrak delivers a new standard of travel, reserved seating is one of several new initiatives we are undertaking in support of expanded health and safety protocols," said Amtrak President and CEO, Bill Flynn. "By providing customers with an easier and safer boarding process that limits people moving through the trains trying to find a seat, we are able to meet customer expectations for safer travel."Customers will be automatically assigned to a seat upon purchasing their tickets, but are provided the option to change their seats using an interactive seating map available on the Amtrak website or app. Contact center and station agents, and conductors, also have the ability to modify customer’s seat assignments. New exterior and onboard signage is being installed on Acela trainsets, and on station platform locations along the Northeast Corridor (NEC), to help customers quickly find their designated rail car and reserved seats.As part of Amtrak’s New Standard of Travel commitment to safeguarding the passenger experience, only window seats will be available to book while Acela continues to operate at reduced capacity, ensuring that customers are afforded the space to stay effectively physically distanced. Seat maps will display aisle and rear-facing seats as blocked. Those traveling with companions or as part of a group will be assigned seats in separate rows but may choose to sit together once onboard.Although Amtrak has accelerated the rollout of Reserved Seating in response to the current pandemic conditions, the company plans to continue with this enhancement post-COVID-19, including aboard the new Acela trainsets that are slated to debut in 2021. It plans on using employee and customer feedback from the present deployment to inform future improvements to the program. For more information, visit amtrak.com. Let's block ads! (Why?)

A high-speed rail line between Los Angeles and Las Vegas is moving closer and closer to reality.The Nevada State Board of Finance has approved a $200 million bond allocation to XpressWest, a company looking to connect Southern California to Las Vegas with a high-speed train that will significantly cut down on the four-hour drive between the two cities. XpressWest is owned by Wall Street investor Wes Edens and as a division of his Florida-based Brightline passenger rail service, according to Forbes.While $200 million might not sound like much, it is a private activity bond that allows Edens to sell four times the amount of money it was awarded as tax-exempt bonds to private investors. Counting the $600 million the project has already been awarded from the state of California, Edens now has $800 million in bonds and can sell up to $3.2 billion in funding between the two states.Add in the $1 billion U.S. Department of Transportation allocation in March, XpressWest has $4.2 billion of the 170-mile rail line’s total $5 billion construction cost.“This plan creates jobs without using taxpayer dollars and without impacting our state's ability to finance future projects, and will allow a new, convenient mode of transportation between Nevada and California,” Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak said, according to Forbes.XpressWest says the project will create a total of 30,000 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent jobs in the neighboring states. Edens told Forbes he sees an opportunity for something similar done in Europe – create high-speed rail lines between cities (like Paris to London) that are too close to fly but too far to drive. Let's block ads! (Why?)

A majority of car rental companies around the globe are stepping up their safety protocols amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new study from the international car rental website DiscoverCars.com.The survey of its 359 car rental partners conducted last month found that 84 percent have implemented specialist sanitation for each of their cars across all locations. In many cases, these enhanced cleaning measures include disinfecting seats, steering wheels, ventilation and radio systems, among other important areas. Meanwhile, more than one-quarter of the companies surveyed (27 percent) now offer additional COVID-19 protection in the form of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as antibacterial gel and wipes, face masks or gloves at no cost while 12 percent have PPE available at an extra cost. Trending Now Hand-sanitizing gel (60 percent) is the most common item being supplied by car rental companies, followed by masks (46 percent), wipes (17 percent) and gloves (10 percent), the research shows.Some companies are also requesting that customers sign a form stating that they do not have any COVID-19 symptoms and have not been in touch with anyone who has prior to the rental. What's more, if a customer does report symptoms upon their return, many car rental companies are placing vehicles in quarantine until they can be sanitized and safely rented out again.Discover Cars reports that COVID-19 protection is the third-most-popular request from customers in its booking system (4 percent), trailing only automatic transmission (10 percent) and tying with air conditioning (4 percent). The website also notes that online check-ins and contactless handovers are becoming increasingly popular among rental car customers.Perhaps unsurprisingly, the research shows that rental car prices have declined all around the world due to the pandemic, with Sweden (57 percent decrease), Canada (48 percent decrease) and Portugal's Azores archipelago (44 percent decrease) experiencing the biggest drops in cost compared to last year.In the U.S., Discover Cars reports that Florida has seen a sizable 18 percent drop in price in June 2020 compared to the same month last year.Poland (5 percent decrease), New Zealand (5 percent decrease) and Iceland (13 percent decrease) have been the countries least affected in terms of car rental costs this year compared to 2019 while Norway has actually seen a 13 percent rise in price. Let's block ads! (Why?)

Rocky Mountaineer, the world’s largest privately-owned luxury tourism train operator, today announced that, due to continued government travel- and health-related restrictions, it has been forced to suspend the remainder of its travel season to include departures through October 11, 2020.“We are incredibly disappointed to announce the suspension of our rail operations through to the end of the 2020 season. Like so many in the tourism and hospitality industry, the pandemic has had an overwhelmingly negative impact on our business,” said Steve Sammut, President and CEO of Rocky Mountaineer. “Despite the challenging environment, we remained hopeful we would be able to operate our trains at some point this season. However, given the continuing government travel and health restrictions, we have no choice but to postpone our rail tours until the scheduled start of our 2021 season.” Trending Now For guests who have existing reservations aboard any of the affected rail tours, Rocky Mountaineer is emphasizing its commitment to delivering them an exceptional rail tour experience at a time when it becomes possible and appropriate to do so. Guests booked for a now-suspended departure will be issued a future travel credit valued at 110 percent of the amount they’d originally paid, which is valid through the end of the 2022 season.Rail prices for the 2021 and 2022 seasons are also being frozen at 2020 pricing levels, so that guests won’t find themselves faced with a rate increase for the rail portion of their tour when they go to rebook. Guests who will be rebooking a similar package for 2021 travel falling within a window of fourteen days on either side of their original departure date’s anniversary will find that Rocky Mountaineer is guaranteeing they’ll suffer no price increases on their rebooked packages.When operations resume, Rocky Mountaineer is ready, having already implemented many operational modifications to align itself with government guidelines and industry best practices for preventing transmission of illnesses like COVID-19. These include pre-travel health screenings, modified boarding and seating protocols to provide adequate spacing between traveler groups, and the incorporation of enhanced sanitization throughout rail cars utilizing electrostatic disinfectant sprayers. Onboard host speaks about the scenery from GoldLeaf dome. (photo via Rocky Mountaineer) Superior ventilation systems supply its rail cars with constant fresh-air intake and circulation, and carriages are equipped with advanced air-filtration technology that captures 99.9 percent of airborne particles. A more in-depth overview of Rocky Mountaineer’s updated health and safety measures and procedures, plus details on what to expect during each stage of the passenger journey, is available here.“We know this has been an exceptionally challenging time for our guests, partners and team members, and we thank them for their patience and continued support,” said Sammut. “In the coming months, we will work with our guests and travel partners to rebook their travels from this year, and then shift our focus to our 2021 season. When we do operate our trains, the health and safety of our guests and team members will be at the forefront, while still continuing to provide the superb service for which we are known.”Customers who are affected by the extended suspension should contact their travel advisor or Rocky Mountaineer prior to November 30, 2021, to choose their new travel date. Further COVID-19-related information, answers to FAQs and more can be found on the company’s Customer Updates page. For more information, visit rockymountaineer.com. Let's block ads! (Why?)

Amtrak is reinforcing its commitment to the safety and well-being of its customers and has implemented new and improved personal safety measures to best protect passengers traveling in the COVID-19 era."As we continue to prioritize health and safety in traveling, it's important we provide our customers with new, innovative measures that promote physical distancing and contactless travel," said Amtrak President and CEO, Bill Flynn. Trending Now New technological capabilities are proving key both to protecting customers and providing an unprecedented level of convenience when it comes to rail travel. As part of the company’s New Standard of Travel, the Amtrak app enables customers to purchase tickets, access up-to-date gate and boarding information and present e-tickets using their own mobile device.To simplify and safeguard the experience, Amtrak now provides real-time boarding information when customers enable push notifications through the Amtrak mobile app so that they can wait comfortably at a distance until their train is ready.By opting-in for delay notifications on the app, passengers at NYP station, in particular, can count on receiving a text or email two hours prior to departure that outlines the station’s updated cleaning procedures and restroom protocols and supplies their recommended arrival times, boarding and ticketing information."We encourage all customers to download the app to receive our new app updates, which will prevent crowding inside the station waiting for the boarding information to post; and provide an extra level of confidence to make travel safe and secure, in addition to the many safety measures onboard our trains and at our stations," added Flynn.Notably, at New York’s Penn Station (NYP), but also at other stations across the U.S., Amtrak has implemented the following modifications:—Physical Barriers: Protective plastic barriers have been installed where necessary, including in front of customer counters at Amtrak’s busiest stations.—Enhanced Cleaning: Heightened frequency and intensity of cleaning protocols throughout the station, with an extra concentration on high-touch surfaces (e.g. door handles, countertops, seating areas and Quik-Trak kiosks) using EPA-registered disinfectants. NYP station is closed every night between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. to allow for complete disinfection.—Heightened Hygiene: Hand-sanitizer products are provided for customer use in all Amtrak areas of the station.—Physical Distancing: Signage has been installed in high-traffic areas at Amtrak’s busiest stations to indicate safe distances in high-traffic areas.—Facial Coverings: Amtrak already requires all employees and customers to wear appropriate facial coverings while inside stations and onboard trains.—Station Arrivals: Customers are advised to arrive 30 minutes prior to their departure, or 60 minutes prior if they will need ticketing and/or baggage assistance.—Boarding Policies: The Priority Boarding feature has been discontinued, ensuring that all passengers can board when they are ready and have the space to remain socially distanced throughout the boarding and seating process.—Limited Capacities: Amtrak is implementing new capacity restrictions at ClubAcela to protect customers and prevent overcrowding.—Restroom Updates: On-duty restroom attendants are on-hand to monitor and manage the number of people allowed inside the facilities at a single time, in compliance with CDC guidelines. Signage to indicate appropriate physical distancing will soon be installed in restrooms. Also, cleaning and disinfection processes are ongoing, even when restrooms are open for customer use.—Increased Staffing: At NYP, Amtrak has increased its personnel numbers, with one employee posted upstairs and another downstairs on the platform, in order to expedite boarding and minimize customers wandering around in search of the right train. For more information, visit amtrak.com. Let's block ads! (Why?)