is Amtrak more restrictive than the airlines?

I think the last time I rode Amtrack was years ago. I don't know what their policies were, but there was no security check at all, and no one had any idea what I was carrying.

I've seen signs at Greyhound stations that prohibit all weapons, but no security checks there either.

Just be discreet, and carry whatever you want.
 
Greyhound and Amtrack BOTH conduct invasive security checks (wanding, frisk, luggage search). They seem to do kit on a semi-random basis (every other line of waiting passangers) and aren't nearly as professional about it as TSA.

Depending on where you are, if you have a knife on your person or in your luggage, at the very least it will be confiscated. You may forfeit your ticket, and it is possible that you may be arrested as well.
 
Who would do the arresting, and on what basis? Amtrack and Greyhound are civilian enterprises. Violating their rules could get me thrown off the line with loss of my ticket, but that's about it.

What a great country. Instead of encouraging public transportation, they make privately owned vehicles a necessity, for self-respect if nothing else.
 
Let’s see if we can find the right forum …
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SkinnyJoe said:
http://www.amtrak.com/pdf/Amtrak_Safety_Security.pdf

My understanding was that airlines allow checked in firearms, no?

Also, does "weapon" include knives on Amtrak?

Thanks.
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We rode Amtrak last year (June 2006) and didn't hear a word once the whole time, either to or from. As a matter of fact, I had an old Imperial 'SCOUT' knife that I used to fix two seats because they were falling apart. When the car attendant asked what was happening, I told him. I'm sitting there with a knife and seat parts all around, and he only says "I wish you'd fix all of them." I carried a S&W tactical 'throw-away' knife as well, clipped to my pocket the whole time, and no one said anything.

Don't know if you'd get away with that now, though. I'd hide them real well in your luggage.

thx - cpr
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Who would do the arresting, and on what basis? Amtrack and Greyhound are civilian enterprises.
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On Amtrak property it could be Amtrak Police Officers. For either one the local police could also respond. If a no weapons policy is posted and you are in violation it is possible for you to be arrested. You may eventually win the war in court, but the battle will go to the boys in blue.
 
They could end up looking pretty dumb if they arrest you for a SAK without having clear notice ahead of time that anything with an edge scares them silly. Are Amtrack police a private security outfit or are they real police officers? Why would local police get involved in a non-violent disagreement over what constitutes a weapon?
 
i carried a knife the whole time i was on Amtrak trains last summer and never heard a peep about anyone checking anything

i don't remember a sign or anything... i went from Kansas City to Chicago to DC to Philly

has something changed?

although, apparently my knife was illegal to carry in Chicago... (BM Monochrome)
 
but in reference to the initial question, i didn't really have an option to check any luggage, so it was all carry-on. it's not quite the same situation as an airline
 
There is certainly a possibility that some terminals are stricter than others. Headquarters can write a policy in case they ever want to get around to enforcing it generally.

Also, I went to a museum recently that had a notice clearly posted as we entered that they had metal detectors. But they didn't. Security only wanted to glance into large bags, which they have done very politely for years now. Later I saw the metal detectors in a hallway off to the side, collecting dust.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Who would do the arresting, and on what basis? Amtrack and Greyhound are civilian enterprises. Violating their rules could get me thrown off the line with loss of my ticket, but that's about it. .
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There are NYPD all over Port Authority. I was a bit concerned when I saw them wanding folks the next line over when I had a 6" Vaquero Grande on my belt . . . and the legal limit in NYC is only 4". I ditched my blade under the trash recepticle in the washroom . . . and luckilly it was still there 15 minutes later. It would suck to spend a week in the Tombs.
 
You saw NYPD wanding people in Port Authority? The bus terminal? That's a new one on me. (Port Authority has their own police force.)
 
Esav Benyamin said:
They could end up looking pretty dumb if they arrest you for a SAK without having clear notice ahead of time that anything with an edge scares them silly. Are Amtrack police a private security outfit or are they real police officers? Why would local police get involved in a non-violent disagreement over what constitutes a weapon?
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Amtrak PD are federal police officers. Most interstate railroads also maintain police departments with duly sworn officers. As for your 2nd question you can't possibly be serious. Police have been responding to far sillier complaints for almost forever.
 
Police have also been known to ignore complaints that had no good basis in law. Calling in local police to enforce business regulations would qualify for ignoring. They save themselves lots of administrative hassle by just escorting you out.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
You saw NYPD wanding people in Port Authority? The bus terminal? That's a new one on me. (Port Authority has their own police force.)
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I misspoke.

The wanders were private security employed by Greyhound. Two security officers would push a cart to the front of the line, and every passenger was wanded and their bags (carry on & checked) were opened. They did the line ahead of us so I went to the washroom, thinking knife was ditched for good. Then they skipped our line and went to the next one down, so I got it back. Saw uniformed Transit Police, and spotted a few plainclothed officers. I am fairly certain that security would've called the police if they found an illegal knife in someone's luggage.
 
MORIMOTOM said:
there are railroad police in california, employed by the state i believe.
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As I recall, RR Police in California recieve a state LEO commission, and have the all the other authorities of California LEOs. They are allowed to carry weapons as required/ allowed by their employer.

Amtrak Police recieve a Federal LEO Commission and do recieve training at the FLETC, however they do not recieve all the same benefits and priviledges (espcially at retirement) as other federal LEOs (they are a diffirent class).

RR Police do have interstate authority.
 
tyr_shadowblade said:
I misspoke.

The wanders were private security employed by Greyhound. Two security officers would push a cart to the front of the line, and every passenger was wanded and their bags (carry on & checked) were opened. They did the line ahead of us so I went to the washroom, thinking knife was ditched for good. Then they skipped our line and went to the next one down, so I got it back. Saw uniformed Transit Police, and spotted a few plainclothed officers. I am fairly certain that security would've called the police if they found an illegal knife in someone's luggage.
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OK, that sounds about right. I also agree that if they found a 6" blade in your luggage, they would have called the Port Authority Police. If they found it on your person, I'm sure they would have arrested you.
 
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