Amtrack "No Ride" List?

[Mad Dawg Wiccan]

NEW YORK — A senator on Sunday called for a "no-ride list" for Amtrak trains after intelligence gleaned from the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound pointed to potential attacks on the nation's train system.

Sen. Charles Schumer said he would push as well for added funding for rail security and commuter and passenger train track inspections and more monitoring of stations nationwide.


www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42949742/ns/us_news-security/?gt1=43001

[billisonboard]

Most of America is on an Amtrack "No Ride" list already.

Amtrak Notes Financial Woes - ABC NewsAmtrak Notes Financial Woes. June 21. Share. Comments. Print. Font Sizes. Amtrak is in its worst financial shape ever. According to a report issued by the ...
abcnews.go.com › Money - Similar

[floridayankee]

May 9, 2011 10:04:35 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Most of America is on an Amtrack "No Ride" list already.

I was thinking the same thing bills. Terrorists tend to strike high profile targets. Amtrak is hardly high profile.

BUT, it is a great excuse to hire a ton of new TSA agents!

[Deleted]

No more train rides to Grandma's with your drug stash, sounds like. Yes, I know people that use trains to avoid airport security because they need their pot. Guess they will have to go the old Fed-Ex standby plan..
SO-- does this mean the Feds are going to bail out Amtrak now?

[Mad Dawg Wiccan]

I know it's not used much out here, but aren't trains fairly popular for commuters on the eastern seaboard? Trains aren't all that difficult to derail, a terrorist wouldn't even have to be on board.

[Deleted]

Agreed, MDW. This is another bail-out scheme, I bet. They love to do that in the name of national security... except on the border, of course.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I haven't ridden Amtrak in years ~ do you need photo ID to buy a ticket and board?

[ed1066]

May 9, 2011 14:10:44 GMT -5 ❤ mollymouser ❤ said:

I haven't ridden Amtrak in years ~ do you need photo ID to buy a ticket and board?

No. I ride Amtrak every week and have never had to show ID either on the train, or when purchasing tickets.

[straydog]

Yup, and then if we let them get away with this, then the next thing that they will be proposing will be a 'no take the greyhound list' as well. But do you really think that it will end there?

I have no doubt that if the government could get away with it, they would literally try to take control of all travel in the U.S., including our cars. After all, cars have been used by bombers for years.

Will we ever see the day when if you are on some watch list, they will forbid you to drive out of your own state? If they wont let you get on a plane, or now a train, then why would they let you get on a bus, or drive your car?

I wonder if this elementary school kid will now be harassed at the new Amtrak checkpoint.

"Meet Mikey, 8: U.S. Has Him On A Watch List"

www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/nyregion/14watchlist.html

Portable DNA scanners at train stations?

"Genetic Patdown, Homeland Security's Plan For DNA Screening Could Quickly Lead To Other Uses, Abuses"

www.thedaily.com/page/2011/02/26/news-tsa-scanner-1-2/

[floridayankee]

May 9, 2011 10:36:38 GMT -5 Mad Dawg Wiccan said:

I know it's not used much out here, but aren't trains fairly popular for commuters on the eastern seaboard? Trains aren't all that difficult to derail, a terrorist wouldn't even have to be on board.

Not that I know of. I've traveled the eastern seaboard many, many, many, many....times and I've never even thought about taking the train.

Ok, for shizits and giggles, I looked the trip from Tampa International to Providence TF Green airport two weeks from this morning. I can fly one way non-stop on Southwest...."Web Only! $134" and I'll be there in 2 hrs, 50 minutes. To take the train...same day, same time on Amtrak will cost $172, involves taking a bus to Orlando (not sure why since there is a train station in Tampa) and a train switch in NYC and I'll be there in 31 hours.

It's 1300 miles. I could drive that quicker but not cheaper. Considering I have no irrational fear of flying, I can still fly cheaper AND much quicker.....the train makes absolutely no sense.

[Deleted]

I'm thinking... watch out...we cannot afford this stuff. Now that I am not terrified of terrorists any more like I was after 9/11 when they started all this HLS stuff-- just take it as fact that they are out there always-- I don't agree with any of it any more. I HEARD Hil say that we are no safer now than we were before. So- what is the point, aside from bailing out bankrupt businesses with invisible $$$$ and intruding on the rights of citizens?

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

It would be cheaper to just get a bomb sniffing dog/handler at major Amtrak stations, wouldn't it? I know that they're somewhat rare around here, but when we were in Bogota, Colombia they had bomb dogs EVERYWHERE .... to get into the mall, you were sniffed. To get into the grocery store, you were sniffed. To get into the hotel, you were sniffed.

[straydog]

May 9, 2011 15:36:16 GMT -5 ❤ mollymouser ❤ said:

It would be cheaper to just get a bomb sniffing dog/handler at major Amtrak stations, wouldn't it? I know that they're somewhat rare around here, but when we were in Bogota, Colombia they had bomb dogs EVERYWHERE .... to get into the mall, you were sniffed. To get into the grocery store, you were sniffed. To get into the hotel, you were sniffed.

I truly hope that we never become like Colombia.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Agreed. Bullet-proof glass on all the car windows (none would roll down), and so much gunfire in the city that I spent most of the time in my hotel room crawling around on the floor. Not to mention risking my life to venture across the street to the grocery store.

[billisonboard]

May 9, 2011 15:36:16 GMT -5 ❤ mollymouser ❤ said:

It would be cheaper to just get a bomb sniffing dog/handler at major Amtrak stations, wouldn't it? I know that they're somewhat rare around here, but when we were in Bogota, Colombia they had bomb dogs EVERYWHERE .... to get into the mall, you were sniffed. To get into the grocery store, you were sniffed. To get into the hotel, you were sniffed.

Sounds like getting into my house, but ours are treat dogs.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

;D Treat dogs are the best!

[billisonboard]

May 9, 2011 17:34:23 GMT -5 @toughtimes said:

If I wanted to target a train I would drive a car or bus directly in front of one or damage the tracks. But then, I am not an international criminal mastermind...

Reminds me of a discussion on a board once where there was a plot to have terrorists go through the whole process of going through the qualifying training, applying for, and getting hired for jobs as school bus drivers so they could take their bus they had been hired to drive and crash them into schools. My idea that just maybe there was an easier, surer way to get your hands on a school bus full of kids was met with scorn.

[Deleted]

I wonder if animal rights activists would get up in arms about having dogs put at risk by sniffing for bombs, etc. Anyone ever heard if they have a cow about police dogs?

[Deleted]

Well, that was easy--

animalrights.about.com/od/workinganimals/a/PoliceDogs.htm