Just read that Amtrak is going to announce tighter security measures including random bag serachs and platform police type individuals. Expect the official announcement some time in the next couple of days.
I was flipping around on TV when I got to CNN. They announced the new Amtrak tighter security measures. The one thing I noticed was that they did start the random bag searches. They ask random passengers to step into a security area for a bag search. If you don’t, you miss the train. Sounds like a pretty good incentive to cooperate!
Note to potential terrorists - Don’t carry a bag or backpack onto Amtrak. Just leave that big, heavy winter coat on your seat and move to the far end of the car.
As for me, that just drove a spike through any interest I’ve ever had in riding Amtrak.
Chuck
If I could get the Supreme Court to appoint ME President, that spookey Orwellian Department of Homeland Security would be gone by the end of January.
The announcement is on the Amtrak website:
Typical American (or more accurately, Bush-era) approach: an expensive, cumbersome exercise that does more to scare the citizenry than address a real problem in an effective manner. The Europeans and Israelis - who know about true security - think we are ridiculous.
It does NOT scare me, it makes me feel more Secure.
A dog snifs your bag as you wait to board. Something doesn’t look right, they may want to check further.
Most trains are “All Reserved” they already know who you are and if you are a frequent traveler who use and/or enjoy the train. Remember, the 9/11 highjackers could have been spotted and stopped with what we now know about security.
The true danger of an attack is to our Economy, it’s not to our Passenger trains but disrupting our Freight network.
[#ditto] and mega-[#ditto] !!!
But first, as President you ought to make sure the public is educated enough to read Orwell’s 1984 for themselves, which to my way of thinking is just as chilling as the first time I read it in the Sixties. “War Is Peace” “Ignorance is Strength” “Farm-raised salmon are wild” [#oops]–the third one wasn’t said by Orwell.
I have that book, and have lent it to several people.
When it was written in 1947, it was a work of fiction, depicting what the world might be like in 1984 if Germany had won WW-II.
It has turned out to be prophesy. It should be read in school.
[#ditto]all in favor?!
I find it depressing that 1984 is not read in school.
Aye!! Motion carries (I hope)
It was required reading for my sophmore english class in highschool 10 years ago… Interesting story but thast all it is, a story and 100% fiction at that. The only people who compare the real world to that book spend most there time running around in tinfoil hats
Any thoughtful person who has read and heard the justifications of the misadventure in Iraq by the current regime in Washington and the actions of the Committee for State Security (DHS to the unknowing) would find a comparison to the world found in the pages of “1984” to be quite apt.
IS IT JUST ME, or are there four void postings above Phoebe Vet’s posting?
allen
As long as I don’t get tazered or the sniffing dog does’nt hoist his leg on my bags I can live with whatever security measures they put in place.
Remember the old days, when Americans had a spine?
All this is more scare the public, Homeland Security, Bush hype that is mostly a waste of time & money. Outside of the NEC, I really can’t see anything of a threat to Amtrk riders. Last month I took a 12 state 5100 mile trip on three long distance trains. I feel as safe on a Amtrk today no more than I did 20 yrs ago. There just isn’t a threat there. Outside of more police seen @ the stations in LA and El Paso, the only “Homeland Security” was when #2 stopped in Del Rio–out in the middle of nowhere. A Homeland Security agent boarded the train to make a inspection and we were told by the condr there was gonna be a slght delay account of that. One of the riders on my car was from Marfa and he stated folks in TX are fed up w/all this Homeland Security and wish it would go away. You cannot take the same procedures in place @ NYC and custom fit it for a lil place like Del Rio. What is someone going to attack? The catcus in front of the depot I was standing next to?
example of security measures that are wast of time and money, 30th St Station Phila, and I assume NY Penn Station, Amtrak checks tickets at the top of the stairway on the north side of the concourse, but usually leave the stariway at the south side protected with just a velvet rope, both stairways lead to the same platform.
That was true about 2 years ago, the last time I accompanied anyone to catch a train. She went down the attended north stairway with her ticket, I went down the unattended south stairway so I could kiss her goobye at trainside. All I had to do was unclip the velvet rope and reclip it afterward.
So we have extra personnel being wasted examining tickets at the top of 1 of 2 stairs, but nobody looks at the tickets again until after the train’s underway.
And nobody looks at tickets at Trenton, Newark Airport or Newark, and I assume New Carrolton, BWI, Baltimore, Wilmington, New Rochelle, Stamford, Rt 128 or Back Bay, where Amtrak shares platforms with commuter trains. So what enhanced security did we get by making sure the terrorist had a reserved ticket at Union Station DC, but not at BWI? I haven’t looked into what these new and improved security measures are, did they fix this loophole, or move the resources for this useless ticket inspecting task to something more effective?