Amtrak Installing Lactation Suites for Nursing Mothers

To help make rail travel easier on nursing mothers, Amtrak announced the addition of lactation suites at five major train stations, four of which will be installed in time for summer travel season.

The lactation suites will be added to Amtrak stations in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia and Chicago in the coming weeks, with the fifth being installed in New York-Penn Station early this fall.

The lactation suites will feature comfortable benches, a fold-down table, an electrical outlet for plugging in a breast pump and a door that can be locked for privacy. The pods will be ADA-compliant and designed by Mamava.

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“These new lactation suites demonstrate Amtrak’s ongoing commitment to better accommodate the needs of our customers and their families while traveling with us,” Amtrak vice president David Handera said in a statement. “It is important for Amtrak to provide mothers with a secure, clean, dignified and private space.”

“We’re thrilled to support breastfeeding mamas at Union Station,” Mamava CEO Sascha Mayer said. “We believe that all mamas deserve a comfortable place to use a breast pump or breastfeed distraction-free—anywhere, anytime. Mamava pods provide flexibility for facilities and easy access for moms.”

Mothers will also be permitted to breastfeed and express breast milk while visiting Amtrak stations or on-board trains.

In addition, Amtrak recently introduced a New Parental Leave Income Replacement Policy for employees, which allows eligible parents to receive up to 12 weeks of wage replacement benefits following the birth of a child.