Rail Union Criticizes Amtrak Plan to Allow Firearms in Passenger Cars

The Transport Workers Union, which represents 360 onboard service employees at the national passenger rail operator Amtrak, has issued a strong critique of a new policy slated for implementation. The proposed regulations would permit passengers to transport firearms in personal lockboxes on US intercity trains, marking a significant shift in how weapons are handled on the railway system.

John Feltz, the International Rail Division director for the Transport Workers Union, expressed sharp disagreement with the measure in a public statement. He drew a direct comparison to air travel, noting that passengers cannot walk onto an airplane with a gun, as it must be checked with luggage and stowed away. Feltz questioned the logic of allowing firearms in confined passenger spaces on trains, describing the decision as sheer lunacy.

The union confirmed that the new protocols are scheduled to take effect in January 2027. Previously, Amtrak indicated it was considering the change under pressure from the Trump administration to ease restrictions on transporting weapons, but a specific timeline had not been announced until now.

Under the new rules, gun owners would bring their weapons in cases to an Amtrak station agent. The agent would then secure the case with an Amtrak-owned combination lock. Passengers would take the locked case onboard, and a station agent at the destination would remove the Amtrak lock upon arrival.

Feltz highlighted potential risks associated with this process, warning that a case or lock could be defective. He also noted that an enraged rider might use brute force to access a weapon. In either scenario, he argued, the lives of riders and union members working on the trains would be endangered.

Currently, Amtrak allows passengers to take guns on a limited number of long distance trains, where they are stored in secure baggage cars. The new policy expands this capability significantly. Brian Delucia, a staff representative at TWU International, stated that the change would allow passengers to take guns to their seats in lockboxes on an additional 1,500 trains per day across the US.

This expansion includes routes on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, which carries about 750,000 people daily. This corridor includes the busiest services connecting Washington, New York, and Boston, areas where passenger density is particularly high.

The union has called on the federal government to reverse the policy. They noted that many Amtrak stations lack a dedicated Amtrak staff or law enforcement presence, which could complicate responses if an incident occurs.

Amtrak did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the union's critique and the upcoming policy changes.