Is the train the safest way to get somewhere during the pandemic? Maybe.

Second wave travel problem: Fly, drive or take the train?

Fly, drive or take the train? That’s the second wave travel problem Nick Kamboj recently had to solve. He needed to travel from Chicago to Los Angeles every two weeks to visit his daughter, and he wanted to do it safely.

“I immediately evaluated every mode of transportation,” says Kamboj, the CEO of Aston & James, college admissions consulting company based in Chicago. “I wanted to ensure that I got to LA safely and returned without any issue.”

It’s more of a concern now than ever. With a second wave of COVID-19 cases looming in the United States, many travelers are being extra careful about their health and safety. And they want to know: What’s the safest way to travel during the second coronavirus wave?

The case for the train

“I think it would be hard to beat a private room on an Amtrak train as a safe way to travel at this time,” says Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari.

Amtrak’s roomette has two seats that convert to bunks, and the bedroom has an enclosed shower and lavatory. Attendants bring meals and beverages to you. As long as you are in your compartment, you can remove your mask, too.

In coach, Amtrak blocks half the seats to allow social distancing. The trains exchange air 44 times each hour, which…