The Transport Workers Union, representing 360 onboard service workers at Amtrak, has condemned the rail operator's planned policy to allow passengers to bring guns on its intercity trains across the US.
The forthcoming rules would permit passengers to carry firearms in personal lockboxes onto trains.
Union Leader Calls Policy 'Sheer Lunacy'
"You can't walk on to a plane with a gun, it has to be checked with your luggage and stowed away," said John Feltz, International Rail Division director of the Transport Workers Union (TWU), in a statement. "So why allow guns in passenger cars on trains where there are also passengers in confined spaces? This is sheer lunacy."
The union said the new policy is scheduled to begin in January 2027. Amtrak had earlier indicated it was considering the policy amid pressure from the Trump administration to ease restrictions on transporting weapons, but had not announced a timeline.
How the Proposed Policy Would Work
According to the union, gun owners would bring their weapons in cases to an Amtrak station agent, who would attach an Amtrak-owned combination lock. Passengers would then take their weapons onboard, and a station agent at the arrival station would remove the Amtrak lock.
"A case or lock could be defective, or an enraged rider could use brute force to access a weapon. Either scenario will endanger the lives of riders and our members working on trains," Feltz added.
Expansion to 1,500 Trains Daily
Currently, Amtrak allows passengers to take guns on a few long-distance trains, stored in secure baggage cars. The new policy would permit passengers to take guns to their seats in lockboxes on an additional 1,500 trains a day across the US, said Brian Delucia, staff representative at TWU International. This includes routes used by about 750,000 people daily in Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, which connects Washington, New York and Boston.
The union has called on the federal government to reverse course on the policy, noting that many Amtrak stations lack Amtrak staff or law enforcement presence to respond if something goes wrong. Amtrak did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
