Does Amtrak Need A TSA?

 Washington D.C. Union Station

In the Christian Science Monitor, the question is posed, after hearing that there may be plots against trains and buses.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0509/Bin-Laden-fallout-Do-US-trains-need-a-no-ride-list

Osama bin Laden wanted Al Qaeda to attack US rail transportation on the 9/11 anniversary, according to intelligence taken from his compound. A 'no-ride list' for Amtrak is being considered.

On Sunday night, as he traveled from Washington to New York, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says Amtrak brought sniffer dogs on the train at every stop.
Not surprisingly, Mr. LaHood says he felt safe...

...Considering bin Laden’s interest in rail – including bombings in Europe – some legislators are wondering if Amtrak should emulate airlines with a “no ride list,” that duplicates the “no fly list.” Unlike air travelers, rail passengers do not have to go through electronic scanning machines or have their luggage checked. And most Amtrak trains don’t have armed marshals aboard as some flights to.

“We’re going to look at all these security matters,” Mr. LaHood said at a press conference on Monday in New York. “We’re going to look at everything and then we’ll make a judgment with our friends in Congress and decide what direction we should go.”

This year, as part of the budget cutting process, Congress cut $50 million from a $300 million grant program that was supposed to be used to beef up rail security. In 2010, that grant program provided Boston with $21.9 million, New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authority $75 million, and Chicago $10.3 million...

OK. Do I hear laughter from the Midwest and places South and further West? The article starts out with the Secretary of Transportation on a train... just like common folks.
You know, if you have ever been on a train outside of the "Gated Community" referred to as the East Coast that the reality of Amtrak is vastly different.

Birmingham, Michigan Amtrak Station

The picture above is the Amtrak train station in Birmingham, Michigan, a thriving, well-to-do community in Oakland County; it is not just a bedroom-community - it has had and continues to have a substantial downtown area. That is the station in its entirety. Nothing has been left out. I took my wife one morning to catch the train for Chicago, figuring I'd taked her to the station, drop her off, go back home and fall asleep for a bit.
But I was not prepared for this station that you see in the picture. I really could not just drop her off there, well-to-do community or not! There was no evidence of any security of any type whatsoever apparent anywhere: there was a waiting-for-the-bus-type kiosk and a sign that said "Inforn ation", and that was it! So I waited with her for the train... which was OK, because it was a nice morning - not too cool or windy.... rainy mornings with a large crowd must be cute!

Exactly what kind of security are you going to put there in the wide open spaces of the Birmingham train station? I'll guarantee you the people that work for the TSA are not going to stand out in the chilly mornings and check peoples' shoes without a roof over their heads.

Apparently, the only way to get our leaders in Washington (of the well-appointed-and-comfortable train stations!) to spend money on our rail system out in the boondocks is to have a foreign terrorist make threats!

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