June Trains Magazine - Article regarding TSA and Amtrak

[user 683]

This may not be news to some of you....thought I would mention since it has been subject of discussion here

The June issue of Trains Magazine has a commentary on page 11, "Our rights still live. Time for celebration", in which the author describes the recent actions by TSA at Savannah Georgia, Amtrak's response and the current policy that TSA can do no more to inspect passengers and baggage than Amtrak police. The author also refers to a future article where he plans to describe other agencies interest in train passengers.

 

[the_traveler]

When I was catching a train last week at MKA (the airport station), the TSA staff from the airport was there checking each carry-on bag! But I did not mind it at all. There were no X-Ray machines or "free medical exams" there. And as soon as the southbound train departed, TSA packed up their table and left. {I was doing a point run between MKA (airport) and MKE (downtown)!

}

 

[amamba]

When you say "checking each carry on bag", can you elaborate? Did they stop each person and do a hand search, opening up each carry on bag? Thanks. Did they only stop those who were boarding the train? What about people that were detraining?

 

[the_traveler]

They did a short check of each bag and purse. All together, I'd say it took no more than 15 seconds (if that long) per passenger. And it was only for boarding passengers going southbound (towards CHI). I happened to be going northbound, but there was a southbound train about 30 minutes before. They were packed up before the northbound train arrived. (jimhudson and I were the only ones boarding.) But there were no TSA agents the night before when I arrived.

Talking with them, I learned they do not do it for every train either.

I'll take this anytime over the 1 hour long lines at the airport!

BTW - MKA (the airport train station) is about 1 mile from MKE (the airport). And just to confuse things a little more, MKE is also the downtown Amtrak station's code, but is 10 minutes by train north of MKE the airport!

 

[amamba]

I guess my point is - what is the purpose of a less than 15 second check of each carry on bag? it sounds so perfunctory that they can't be searching for anything, really. So what it is the purpose of such a search - other than security theater?

 

[the_traveler]

That's it - Security Theater!

But I'll take Amtrak's version over an airport's version any day! Especially when you can't (or couldn't) carry a 50¢ nail clipper or a cup of coffee thru the checkpoint, but as soon as you get on the other side, you can buy nail clippers for $3.00 or a cup of coffee for $5.00!

 

[Eric S]

When I was catching a train last week at MKA (the airport station), the TSA staff from the airport was there checking each carry-on bag! But I did not mind it at all. There were no X-Ray machines or "free medical exams" there. And as soon as the southbound train departed, TSA packed up their table and left. {I was doing a point run between MKA (airport) and MKE (downtown)!

}

I'm curious, was TSA set up inside the MKA train station, or outside on the platform area? I ask because it would seem that if they were set up inside, then it would be possible to just walk from the parking lot to the platform bypassing them inside. (I've never boarded or detrained at MKA, but I have a number of friends who have many times, and I've passed it many, many, many times on the way to/from MKE [Milwaukee Intermodal Station, not Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport].)

 

[the_traveler]

It was inside the MKA station waiting area itself. True, you could walk from the lot and not go thru the building. One person did just that, and a TSA agent met her on the platform to check her bags quickly.

 

[Spokker]

What is their definition of a "bag?"

I don't carry a bag anymore when riding public transportation. I simply cannot handle having my bag checked. I instead have opted to carry what I need in a little folder, the kind you might see a student carrying around. So it'll have papers that I need to study or something like that.

Will they ask me to open up my folder? The folder is relatively flat. It is neither a box or a bag. It can only carry papers.

 

[Anderson]

One of these days, I'll start offering popcorn for sale next to an episode of security theater...

 

[Shanghai]

BTW - MKA (the airport train station) is about 1 mile from MKE (the airport). And just to confuse things a little more, MKE is also the downtown Amtrak station's code, but is 10 minutes by train north of MKE the airport!

It looks like there is some MonKEy Business here!!

 

I hope the_traveler and Jim Hudson enjoyed their ride.

 

[jis]

This may not be news to some of you....thought I would mention since it has been subject of discussion here

The June issue of Trains Magazine has a commentary on page 11, "Our rights still live. Time for celebration", in which the author describes the recent actions by TSA at Savannah Georgia, Amtrak's response and the current policy that TSA can do no more to inspect passengers and baggage than Amtrak police. The author also refers to a future article where he plans to describe other agencies interest in train passengers.

The author is Don Philips who has been following this issue quite diligently in both Trains Magazine and elsewhere. I have met him several times at various NARP meetings and he is quite passionate about being a total pain in the side of the TSA on this. Kudos to him for his diligence.

 

[rrdude]

Agree with JIS, Philips is right on target usually. I don't always agree with him, (shocker!) but he usually provides pretty compelling arguments. I saw this article a month or so ago online, and am glad it made it to the print edition.

Don Phillips has the "ear" of many non-rail, and politico types. He is pretty darn credible in most circles.

TSA at Amtrak stations, the thought literally turns my stomach. Time for a "points run" while in SoCal, to lift me spirits!

 

[AlanB]

It is of course security theater, but this is an example of the worst type.

Set up security check point to screen passengers who have just come off of an airplane and have already gone through the heaviest possible security that the TSA has. Yes, maybe a few people boarding hadn't come from the airport, but the vast majority did. So let's waste money re-screening those who've already been screened. Great idea!

 

[Trogdor]

Yes, maybe a few people boarding hadn't come from the airport, but the vast majority did.

Actually, my experience has been that most people using MKA are not flying, but rather are traveling to/from the south side of the Milwaukee area, and don't want to go downtown to catch the train. The mini shuttle van that runs between MKA and the airport terminal couldn't possibly suffice of the "vast majority" of the people using MKA were flying.

 

[jis]

It was inside the MKA station waiting area itself. True, you could walk from the lot and not go thru the building. One person did just that, and a TSA agent met her on the platform to check her bags quickly.

Afterall they have to do something to justify their employment, no?

 

[sportbiker]

They did a short check of each bag and purse. All together, I'd say it took no more than 15 seconds (if that long) per passenger.

I'm still unclear: Did TSA require passengers to open their carry-ons? If so, did TSA stick hands into the opened carry-ons to move the contents around? Did the inspection include small items like purses and camera bags or only larger items like duffels and roll-ons? And, did you notice anyone refusing?

 

[the_traveler]

They did a short check of each bag and purse. All together, I'd say it took no more than 15 seconds (if that long) per passenger.

I'm still unclear: Did TSA require passengers to open their carry-ons? If so, did TSA stick hands into the opened carry-ons to move the contents around? Did the inspection include small items like purses and camera bags or only larger items like duffels and roll-ons? And, did you notice anyone refusing?

Yes, Yes (with latex gloves), Yes (both) and No (one refused)!

 

[Eric S]

Yes, maybe a few people boarding hadn't come from the airport, but the vast majority did.

Actually, my experience has been that most people using MKA are not flying, but rather are traveling to/from the south side of the Milwaukee area, and don't want to go downtown to catch the train. The mini shuttle van that runs between MKA and the airport terminal couldn't possibly suffice of the "vast majority" of the people using MKA were flying.

Agreed. MKA operates more as a south side/south suburban station for Milwaukee than an airport/rail transfer station. (Not that there aren't some who transfer from air to rail.)

 

[Green Maned Lion]

The author is Don Philips who has been following this issue quite diligently in both Trains Magazine and elsewhere. I have met him several times at various NARP meetings and he is quite passionate about being a total pain in the side of the TSA on this. Kudos to him for his diligence.

With all due respect, Jishnu, after reading his often wildly misinformed and foamy articles, I'd say looking to Don Philips editorials for information on railroads is like looking to the Gospel Of the Flying Spaghetti Monster for information on religion.

 

[MikefromCrete]

The author is Don Philips who has been following this issue quite diligently in both Trains Magazine and elsewhere. I have met him several times at various NARP meetings and he is quite passionate about being a total pain in the side of the TSA on this. Kudos to him for his diligence.

With all due respect, Jishnu, after reading his often wildly misinformed and foamy articles, I'd say looking to Don Philips editorials for information on railroads is like looking to the Gospel Of the Flying Spaghetti Monster for information on religion.

I must defend Don Phillips as one of the best reporters in the transportation field. A comment like this from the likes of you is really off the wall.

 

[the_traveler]

I agree! I'll believe Don Phillips much more than any of the talking heads on TV!

 

[Lars in Mpls]

Took Empire Builder 8 out of St. Paul last Friday and the station was literally swarming with TSA people. There was a St. Paul cop with dog, at least 6 TSA agents (all heavily armed) and a TSA inspector. What all this I have no idea. When we got to Milwaukee and Chicago, not a secuity guard of any kind in sight. I'm sure they were there in Chicago, but we just didn't see them. All very disturbing, not the least of which was the fact that none of them seemed to be doing anything except wandering around. No luggage was searched, no one was pulled aside, just apparently a show of force.

 

[fillyjonk]

I guess my point is - what is the purpose of a less than 15 second check of each carry on bag? it sounds so perfunctory that they can't be searching for anything, really. So what it is the purpose of such a search - other than security theater?

Wow. Fifteen seconds? Considering how I pack my carry-on for the sleeper...most of that time would be spent trying to get my books and knitting yarn and hairbrush and extra pillow BACK into the carry on....

I'm glad I leave from fairly remote stations. I can't imagine a TSA agent learning anything useful from a 15 second scan of my stuff, other than that I probably carry too many books with me.

 

[amamba]

Is there any way to get the text of this article? Now I am curious. It doesn't appear to be online. Someone send me a PM if you have it and would be willing to share. TIA