• Fun Police: VIA Rail Adds Airport Security Measures to Train Passengers
    12 replies, posted
[quote]aking a train in Canada could soon become more like boarding an airplane as Via Rail considers greater scrutiny of checked baggage, more inspections by sniffer dogs and security checks on passengers. The measures -- outlined in documents released under the Access to Information Act -- are being considered in direct response to the alleged terrorist plot to derail a train that led to arrests in April, said Jacques Gagnon, a Via Rail spokesman. "We were already doing a lot, we are doing more now, and we could do even more," Gagnon said in an interview. [/quote] [quote] Via Rail currently does random searches and X-rays of baggage, uses sniffer dogs at stations and observes passengers for tell-tale signs of suspicious behaviour, Gagnon said. "Our employees are trained to detect body language." Some security provisions have been intensified in recent months, while others could be developed further, he said. Via Rail briefing notes prepared in May -- released this month to The Canadian Press under the access law -- indicate the passenger train service is looking at: -- Ensuring all checked baggage can be linked to an on-board passenger, a standard practice for airlines; -- More frequent patrols by sniffer dogs to scrutinize baggage and conduct walkabouts in Montreal, Toronto, Quebec City, Ottawa and Vancouver; -- Additional security measures for the Via-Amtrak train during the Canadian leg of its journey, including mandatory identification checks on all passengers. In addition, Via Rail has already implemented two ideas from the working group -- beefed-up vigilance training for staff and stricter certification standards for members of the train service's safety, security and risk management division, Gagnon said.[/quote] [url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/via-rail-security-more-baggage-checks-sniffer-dogs-background-traces-under-consideration-1.1397783]**SOURCE**[/url] Now that they've wasted a few million more ensuring that stations and passengers are safe, they'll find out the hard way that when a bomb on a train isn't going to happen, a bomb strapped to one of the many bridges VIA uses will claim twice the fatalities because monitoring the ENTIRE trans-canada route is impossible. Most people here don't like taking the train already because it's slow and expensive but yeah, this will certainly improve those seat vacancies now that every ride includes a pat-down.
Aw, I love taking the train because it's no-nonsense. You go in, you sit, it moves on a couple of metal sticks. Nothing more too it.
[QUOTE=mac338;41712917]Aw, I love taking the train because it's no-nonsense. You go in, you sit, it moves on a couple of metal sticks. Nothing more too it.[/QUOTE] Aw, I love taking the air plane because it's no-nosense. You go in, you sit, it moves on a couple of GE90's. Nothing more too it.
[QUOTE=Mad.Hatter;41712955]Aw, I love taking the air plane because it's no-nosense. You go in, you sit, it moves on a couple of GE90's. Nothing more too it.[/QUOTE] You do realize that there's a difference between taking a train and an airplane besides the general systems of momentum applied. Airplane has about an hours worth of security checks, trains you can just pay and go.
[QUOTE=Mad.Hatter;41712955]Aw, I love taking the air plane because it's no-nosense. You go in, you sit, it moves on a couple of GE90's. Nothing more too it.[/QUOTE] But then you have to go through security, check your baggage, wait in a room. I'd say that's a [I]lot[/I] more too it. With the train I do none of that. I have a season pass, I can just step into the conductor-free carriages, and the station is right outside my house so I don't need to wait at the station at all. The trains are comfortable, beautiful, quiet, hygienic and modern and on my line there aren't usually many other passengers either. There is exactly 0% nonsense in that process.
They'll waste all this money, ticket prices will go up, and even less people will take the train electing to take a plane because it'll be just as expensive, just as much bullshit, but a much shorter trip.
Man, I can't wait for more severe security treatment by Canada border services than by the DHS when I take the train from Vancouver to Seattle. I'm not sure if I should even bother renewing my passport; it expires next month.
china has about equivalent airport and train security tbh. I've ridden china rail.
At least it's not the fucking TSA doing those security checks, the airport security at the nearest international airport to me is a bunch of bastards. They swabbed a child's sippy cup for explosives residue, and the hands of the mother too. In Atlanta, my mom was searched by them and had the same explosives residue swab done. It's all a fucking joke.
[QUOTE=Mad.Hatter;41712955]Aw, I love taking the air plane because it's no-nosense. You go in, you sit, it moves on a couple of GE90's. Nothing more too it.[/QUOTE] i use the train more or less every day and i've never had to have someone stick their hand up my arse when boarding
[QUOTE=pentium;41712889][url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/via-rail-security-more-baggage-checks-sniffer-dogs-background-traces-under-consideration-1.1397783]**SOURCE**[/url] Now that they've wasted a few million more ensuring that stations and passengers are safe, they'll find out the hard way that when a bomb on a train isn't going to happen, a bomb strapped to one of the many bridges VIA uses will claim twice the fatalities because monitoring the ENTIRE trans-canada route is impossible.[/QUOTE] I always thought it just be easier to do that than to sneak a bomb onto the train. Airport security makes more sense, because you can't just blow up the plain tracks. But for a train, a derailment means all you need is a couple heavy-duty saws or a rented digger and you can dismantle part of the railroad near a bridge or something.
[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;41714049]I always thought it just be easier to do that than to sneak a bomb onto the train. Airport security makes more sense, because you can't just blow up the plain tracks. But for a train, a derailment means all you need is a couple heavy-duty saws or a rented digger and you can dismantle part of the railroad near a bridge or something.[/QUOTE] Not even that. Steal a derailer block from a side track, paint it brown and bolt it to the main line. A well placed on can pull a whole train off the rails. By the way, 'sup NSA?
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