Amtrak Workers’ Union Opposes New Policy Allowing Firearms on Trains

The Transport Workers Union (TWU), representing 360 onboard service workers at the national passenger rail operator Amtrak, has formally expressed strong opposition to a forthcoming policy that will permit passengers to bring firearms onto intercity trains. While many travelers frequently use Amtrak to navigate the country, this shift in security protocol has sparked significant concern among those responsible for passenger safety.

Concerns over Amtrak train security

The new regulations, scheduled to take effect in January 2027, will allow passengers to carry firearms in personal lockboxes directly to their seats. According to the union, the procedure involves passengers bringing their weapon cases to an Amtrak station agent, who will then attach an Amtrak-owned combination lock. Passengers will carry the locked case onboard, and an agent at the destination will remove the lock. The union noted that Amtrak had previously considered such a policy amid pressure from the Trump administration to reduce restrictions on weapon transport, though a timeline had not been established until now.

The new policy will allow passengers to carry firearms in lockboxes to their seats on 1,500 daily trains.

John Feltz, the International Rail Division director of the TWU, criticized the plan, comparing it unfavorably to aviation security. In a statement, Feltz argued that since guns are not permitted in airplane cabins and must be checked as luggage, allowing them in confined passenger cars on trains is "sheer lunacy." He expressed fear that defective cases or physical force by an agitated passenger could lead to unauthorized access to weapons, endangering both riders and crew members.

Brian Delucia, a staff representative at TWU International, highlighted the scale of the change. While Amtrak currently allows firearms on a limited number of long-distance trains, provided they are stored in secure baggage cars, the new policy expands this to 1,500 trains daily. This includes high-traffic routes within the Northeast Corridor, which connects Washington, New York, and Boston and serves approximately 750,000 passengers every day. The union has called on the federal government to reverse the policy, citing a lack of consistent staff or law enforcement presence at many stations to handle potential security incidents.

Why it matters

This policy change significantly alters security protocols for Amtrak, shifting from a model where firearms are restricted to secure cargo areas to one where they are present in passenger seating areas. This move affects the safety environment for both staff and hundreds of thousands of daily commuters across the United States.