Concerned about TSA at major stations.

[Durham57]

Although I have been assured the Savannah fiasco was a one-time event, I keep reading on other travel forums that TSA is now conducting pre-boarding searches at many Amtrak stations. Has anyone been through these stations recently: Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D. C., New York Penn and Charleston, S.C. If so, what can you tell me about this? I am traveling June 19 to Charleston and return July 3 to LAX. Have been traveling exclusively on Amtrak since 2006 precisely because of TSA. If anyone can tell me what to prepare for, I would really appreciate it....and thanks!

 

[the_traveler]

I've only saw a "random" carry-on baggage check at a major station once. That was on #66 in PHL. Out of the 30-50 people in line to board, only ONE (1) person was selected!

I'd say your chances are slim to none. And that is also why I tale Amtrak over flying.

 

[PerRock]

Isn't TSA banned from Amtrak right now? or is it just their special VIPER teams?

peter

 

[TVRM610]

Since January I've ridden various Amtrak and NJT trains in and out of NYP dozen or two times and not seen any TSA. What I have seen is...

1 ) Amtrak Police, with dogs.

2) MTA Police, Armed with BIG guns, stationed, or roaming lower level of NYP

3) US Army, some more visibly armed than others, stationed or roaming throughout NYP.

So what I'm trying to say is that while I did not see any TSA staff, and did not see any searches (other than dogs walking by) at NYP, you will almost for sure feel like you are being watched, and that the area is under heave security surveillance.

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

Coming into Chicago last January on the Lake Shore pax were casually "sniffed at" by a dog as we entered the station. I would imagine it was police rather than TSA. Other than Border Patrol or Conductors checking ID at boarding, that is the most aggressive railroad security I have seen.

 

[GG-1]

you will almost for sure feel like you are being watched, and that the area is under heave security surveillance.

Aloha

I being watched bothers someone then that person better stay out of the Vegas casino's. the number of camera per Square ? is incredible. :giggle: :lol: :lol:

 

[Bob Dylan]

Saw my first dogs recently in the Austin Station, they were pulling their handlers around the building sniffing luggage, people and walked alongside the Train but didnt question anyone nor get on the Train! It was the local PD, not Feds. The Austin agents told me that there was some "plan" to do spot inspections, surprise gauntlet lines etc. but its supposed to be Top Secret between Feds/Amtrak Police/Locals etc. yada yada! :angry2: Let's Hope not! :excl: :excl: :excl:

 

[TVRM610]

you will almost for sure feel like you are being watched, and that the area is under heave security surveillance.

Aloha

I being watched bothers someone then that person better stay out of the Vegas casino's. the number of camera per Square ? is incredible. :giggle: :lol: :lol:

Well there is a difference between being "watched" by cameras and being "watched" by guards holding large guns. One of them secures the area while keeping a "pleasant" experience. The other, is a way to intimidate people.. uh oh.. my foot is easing up on that soap box once again.

A case in point, one of the best secured properties in this country is the Walt Disney World Resort. Cameras are everywhere. They have a private Security team that includes K-9 Teams. However you are never once intimidated. The attitude of the employees is professional and friendly, even within security (with a few minor exceptions I'm sure, like in any job.) You can have an incredibly secure area, without intimidating people, however, that is not what this country is wanting to do.

I imagine your Las Vegas Comparison is much like my Disney one, Casino's want you to feel comfortable, so they don't have a "Casino Security Agent" standing by watching every move you make. That would make you feel uncomfortable, and you would leave. Casinos have merged security, with a comfortable surrounding somehow.

For the record, I'm not bothered THAT much by what I see at NYP. But it does show us how far we have come in this country.

 

[BobWeaver]

Although I have been assured the Savannah fiasco was a one-time event, I keep reading on other travel forums that TSA is now conducting pre-boarding searches at many Amtrak stations. Has anyone been through these stations recently: Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D. C., New York Penn and Charleston, S.C. If so, what can you tell me about this? I am traveling June 19 to Charleston and return July 3 to LAX. Have been traveling exclusively on Amtrak since 2006 precisely because of TSA. If anyone can tell me what to prepare for, I would really appreciate it....and thanks!

I traveled through LYH, NWK, NYP, CHI, and WAS 1-2 weeks ago and never saw anything TSA-related. I did see Amtrak Police in WAS and NYP with dogs walking around, and an officer (agency unclear) in NYP standing and holding an automatic rifle, but I didn't see any baggage searches or customer questioning taking place.

John O'Connor has banned TSA from all Amtrak property until a formal agreement can be drawn up.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

If anyone can tell me what to prepare for, I would really appreciate it....and thanks!

Prepare for the TSA or a similar agency to follow you to Amtrak. Not right away, but eventually. Leaving the airlines didn't actually solve the whole invasive police state problem; it merely delayed your suffering and gave the police state folks more time to build up strength and solidify their mandate. From the looks of it we're currently in a temporary lull after a few controversial incidents gained some unwanted attention, but eventually Amtrak passengers will begin to suffer similarly invasive scans and checks as most airline passengers do. No, it probably won't be every single Amtrak passenger and the actual security provided by these changes is unlikely to actually save lives, but I'm not sure that was ever the point of the TSA in the first place. In any case that's the sort of government interference we've been voting for and that's the sort of government we're going to be living under until we vote the police state politicians out of office. Unfortunately they've been able to stack the deck with partisan gerrymandering so who knows if voting them out is even possible anymore.

You can have an incredibly secure area, without intimidating people, however, that is not what this country is wanting to do.

I would doubt that a majority of citizens are in support of the TSA's ever more invasive searches. But neither are they willing to take the time necessary to expose and vote out the folks who support and fund the TSA.

They don't have a "Casino Security Agent" standing by watching every move you make.

They most certainly do. He's in a nice suit and tends to keep his distance until any one of several layers of security notices that something looks amiss. Well, at least this is true at the tables. Maybe the folks at the nickle slots only have cameras, the transaction log, and random waitresses to worry about.

 

[dlagrua]

This is all feel good B.S. Is the TSA going to protect and guard every single mile of trackage in the USA? Are they going to have a presence at the numerous unstaffed stations scattered all over the country?

It is up to us, the railroad passenger to keep our eyes and ears open and to report any suspicious activity. Thats really the only way to be secure. Additionally cameras at the large stations are all that is needed.

 

[amamba]

I was at NYP last weekend and didn't see any officers from any agency - but I wasn't looking closely. There is generally an Amtrak police officer at PVD either in the station or down on the platform when boarding. I have also seen many officers with dogs at both BOS and BON.

I have yet to see anyone singled out or pulled from line at the gate.

 

[jis]

There were several Amtrak Police Officers in Philadelphia 30th Street Station through the chaos that was was in progress during the NEC power failure yesterday. But they were mostly keeping an eye out for disorderly conduct by frustrated people than anything else I think. One even came down and walked the length of the stalled Acela a couple of times.

 

[Long Train Runnin']

I was at NYP last weekend and didn't see any officers from any agency - but I wasn't looking closely. There is generally an Amtrak police officer at PVD either in the station or down on the platform when boarding. I have also seen many officers with dogs at both BOS and BON.

I have yet to see anyone singled out or pulled from line at the gate.

My last ride on Acela 2 dogs and their handlers boarded the train, and rode with us to BOS.

 

[TN Tin Man]

I was on #8 Sea-Chi arriving Chi last night. When we arrived at MSP yesterday morning there was a heavy DHS police presence on the platform (5 or 6 armed officers) and at least 1 TSA inspector. Inside the station there were several other armed DHS officers and at least one dog. The dog and handeler were posted at the departure door, I assume to screen passenger as they pass for boarding. I don't know if they conducted pre-boarding inspections (pat-downs) at the station. None of the offficers boarded the train. I stayed on the platform watching for that.

I didn't hear any complaints from the MSP boarded passengers. So again as an assuption they must not have been too intrusive. What I was surprised with was the number of armed federal agents compaired to the TSA inspectors. The armed officers were identified by their jackets. They read DHS POLICE across the back with a POLICE on the front with a DHS federal agent badge. The TSA inspectors were unarmed and had TSA INSPECTOR on their jackets.

Like I said earlier I stayed on the platform for the entire stop. I was not approached by any of the officers and they did not seem too intrested in the passengers already on the train.

 

[me_little_me]

The Amtrak police people saw had seeing eye dogs. Amtrak has a new non-discriminatory policy regarding hiring the blind.

Just crouch real low if they ever go for their weapons. I saw one put two bullets between the eyes of a poster of Mickey Mouse last week. He said he thought it was an alien from Mars coming at him. Awesome shooting though!

 

[the_traveler]

My last ride on Acela 2 dogs and their handlers boarded the train, and rode with us to BOS.

Maybe the dogs wanted to go for a point run!

 

[oldtimer]

The Amtrak police people saw had seeing eye dogs. Amtrak has a new non-discriminatory policy regarding hiring the blind.

Just crouch real low if they ever go for their weapons. I saw one put two bullets between the eyes of a poster of Mickey Mouse last week. He said he thought it was an alien from Mars coming at him. Awesome shooting though!

Please there are plenty of good law enforcement officers on Amtrak and every other agency. But as in all careers there are the bad apples, LEO's that are in this business for their egos or power trips. Most Amtrak POs are great but there is the occasionally one that make Barney Fife look like Dirty Harry!

 

[Misty.]

What I have noticed, especially during my first major haul last week, was not obtrusive to me at all. All I saw were a few police with dogs walking Washington Union Station during my layover between my Capitol Limited and Regional on March 7th, and a few people to make sure that the people waiting were actually ticketed before my between my Regional and Acela on the 10th. Definitely more tolerable than airport-style "security" ^_^

 

[the_traveler]

I agree with Misty. When I did my turn at WAS between a Regional arriving at 1:25 AM and one departing at 3:15 AM, I was asked to show my ticket to the Amtrak Police to show that I was an Amtrak Passenger and not a bum. (I am, but that's besides the point!

) I found nothing obtrusive.

 

[RRrich]

I agree with Misty. When I did my turn at WAS between a Regional arriving at 1:25 AM and one departing at 3:15 AM, I was asked to show my ticket to the Amtrak Police to show that I was an Amtrak Passenger and not a bum. (I am, but that's besides the point!

) I found nothing obtrusive.

The Amtrak Police are there to remove non-Amtrak passengers - being a bum is not relevant. Otherwise you and I would have major problems!

 

[MattW]

I agree with Misty. When I did my turn at WAS between a Regional arriving at 1:25 AM and one departing at 3:15 AM, I was asked to show my ticket to the Amtrak Police to show that I was an Amtrak Passenger and not a bum. (I am, but that's besides the point!

) I found nothing obtrusive.

The Amtrak Police are there to remove non-Amtrak passengers - being a bum is not relevant. Otherwise you and I would have major problems!

All joking aside, can they remove you if you're just in WAS doing business at one of the many stores without actually intending to ride a train? My family and I did that back in 2003, rode METRO into Union Station for dinner in the food court, looked around, saw the gates, then returned to our hotel via METRO.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I agree with Misty. When I did my turn at WAS between a Regional arriving at 1:25 AM and one departing at 3:15 AM, I was asked to show my ticket to the Amtrak Police to show that I was an Amtrak Passenger and not a bum. (I am, but that's besides the point!

) I found nothing obtrusive.

The Amtrak Police are there to remove non-Amtrak passengers - being a bum is not relevant. Otherwise you and I would have major problems!

All joking aside, can they remove you if you're just in WAS doing business at one of the many stores without actually intending to ride a train? My family and I did that back in 2003, rode METRO into Union Station for dinner in the food court, looked around, saw the gates, then returned to our hotel via METRO.

Wouldnt worry about during business hours of the stores and food court/returants in Union Station. Perhaps wanting to sleep by the Amtrak Gates might cause LE to check you out, wouldnt thing shoppers and customers will have any problem! (and I'm a retired bum too but always have my ticket handy just in case! while hanging out in stations!)

 

[Saddened]

Last time I went through Chicago, Amtrak police were randomly pulling people aside and going through their bags. Next trip, I'm taking the bus - and that's sad. I love the train, but not enough to accept a 4th Amendment violation to ride it.

 

[PRR 60]

Last time I went through Chicago, Amtrak police were randomly pulling people aside and going through their bags. Next trip, I'm taking the bus - and that's sad. I love the train, but not enough to accept a 4th Amendment violation to ride it.

If you think it's a 4th Amendment, then sue them in Federal court. Of course, you'll lose because it is not a 4th Amendment violation, but give it a shot anyway. Lawyers need work, too.