enhanced amtrak security in Boston

[LoveTrains]

My H takes amtrak every day as a commuter into Boston. 

Today, before anyone was allowed onto the platform at Boston South Station (on his way home), all passengers had to show ID with a name that matched the name on the ticket.

Then, after having their tickets and IDs checked, they were ushered down the platform to another line where amtrak police officers were swabbing all bags for explosives. 

I am conflicted about this. On the one hand, I understand the need to do this in light of what happened this week. But on the other hand, it was a) time consuming and b) is probably not done at all stops and c) if someone really wanted to blow up a train they would drive a truck with explosives onto a grade crossing. 

Thoughts from others? 

[LoveTrains]

Apr 17, 2013 19:01:20 GMT -5 @cse1960 said:

It would tell me that there had been threats with regard to South Station.

But they were only checking people getting on amtrak trains. Not on MBTA trains. Or people in the station.

So I don't understand that logic. 

And - and maybe this is my own bias - my H actually recognized two of the amtrak police officers swabbing the bags. He recognized them because for 6 weeks last year they were doing the same thing in Providence - swabbing bags for explosives of folks boarding trains. But they were only swabbing bags of people going on amtrak into Boston, and not swabbing the bags of any people boarding the MBTA commuter rail trains which travel on the same tracks and through the same stations.


Now maybe they have intel that says that a threat is amtrak specific - but if I was planning on taking a bomb on a train, and saw that they were only swabbing amtrak passengers, wouldn't you just take your bomb on the commuter train instead? 

[earlgreyhot]

I agree with @mx. There's heightened awareness on everyone's part. Just the way it's going to be until we move on and forget about it.