Because the philosophy of the current administration seems to be: more government interference is simply best, there is a push to remake train travel in the image of air travel.
And I'll state this up front: if America wishes to completely eliminate train travel and, further, clog up the northeast corridor to the point of a national heart attack -- then go ahead.
Institute the strictures on trains such as currently exist for aircraft.
Mr Obama, you bleeding idiot.
This stems from the recent raid of a compound, in Pakistan, where Osama bin Laden was located and subsequently killed. Intelligence take from that raid, executed by US Navy SEAL Team 6, included digital evidence (from various laptops) indicating the next focus of al Qaeda might be on train transportation.
May 6, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Information taken from Osama bin Laden's compound after his death is revealing details of al-Qaida's plans, including a potential plot against U.S. rail lines.
That means tighter security on rail lines everywhere. An alert to law enforcement officials in all 50 states has been sent out.
Mass transit has remained a target. It is the most vulnerable, according to Homeland Security officials and has been the focus of numerous terrorist plots in the U.S.
Could a 2007 sabotage incident targeting Metra be part of a terrorist plot? That's the question authorities are asking after information about a plot targeting trains was found in the paperwork or computer hard drives seized by Navy SEALs during the raid that killed bin Laden.In 2007, several railroad spikes were removed from the tracks used by Metra's Electric and South Shore lines. Despite a $50,000 reward, the FBI has not found those responsible.
"It is still an active case. Fortunately, we haven't had any other circumstances like this since then, and we will continue to be very vigilant in surveying all of our property," said Judy Pardonnet, Metra spokesperson.
Video here:
NEW YORK (WCBS 880/AP) — Sen. Charles Schumer is calling for better rail security now that the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound has turned up plans to attack trains in the U.S.
“Anyone, even a member of al-Qaida could purchase a train ticket and board an Amtrak train without so much as a question asked,” Schumer said. “So that’s why I’m calling for the creation of an Amtrak no ride list. That would take the secure flight program and apply it to Amtrak trains.”
The "secure flight program." Perfect. Let's create que lines for each and every Amtrak stop.
You'd have to arrive, at minimum, an hour early for your ride.
You'd be subject to a background check -- otherwise, how could a "No Ride" list be created?
Which means your name would be in a larger national database.
There would be shoe and accessory removal, pat-downs, magnetometers and, of course, full body scanners.
And if you DIDN'T do that for EVERY stop, then what would be the point?
Frankly, I couldn't care less if proposed edicts like that froze the entire eastern seaboard. I don't live there and I don't have to make a daily train commute so it means nothing to me.
The northeast corridor would be the largest affected. But also, obviously, affected would be other population centers to include various Amtrak/commuter-related lines in my state, California, as well.
But because I don't live in a high-population center -- again -- I couldn't care less if everything freezes like the worst clotted heart attack.
American Government, you want to completely KILL train travel? You go right ahead. Stop commuters. Treat train passengers like air travelers.
Let's just see, America, how damned far you get.
Good luck with that.
MP154
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Let's follow this thinking. Obama and posse want to ram high speed rail down our throats. Other than the green thinkers, who else wants it? Next, making getting on a train as hard as an airline. Yeah, that will work to put a big sucking hole in our economy while creating new layers of political patronage jobs. Good thinking!
WSF: high speed rail can be placed into the Epic Fail category.
HSR cannot be run over existing freight and passenger lines. There are too many curves and insufficient rail strength and maintenance.
Therefore there would have to be NEW corridors purchased for HSR, meaning that this is land that would have to be bought at extremely high prices because potential sellers would know WHO was making the purchase and for what reason.
LOW speed interurban rail, in my area, Sacramento, is purchased for OVER ONE MILLION DOLLARS per MILE! And that is, then, NOT accounting for the criticality and security REQUIRED for HSR per mile!
MP154
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