TWU Opposes Amtrak Passengers Bringing Guns on Trains Starting Next Year

The Transport Workers Union opposes an Amtrak policy scheduled to begin in January 2027 that would let passengers carry firearms in locked cases into train passenger cars. Under the procedure, travelers would hand their firearm case to a station agent, who would secure it with an Amtrak combination lock; an agent at the destination would remove the lock. The change would extend this option to roughly 1,500 additional trains each day, including services on the Northeast Corridor. Amtrak currently permits guns on some long-distance trains, but they must be stored in secure baggage cars.

TWU Rail Division Director John Feltz argues that firearms should remain in secure locations outside passenger cars, comparing the proposed practice unfavorably with airline rules requiring guns to be checked and stowed. He warns that a faulty case or lock, or a person forcing access to a weapon, could put passengers and onboard workers at risk, particularly in confined train spaces. The union also points to stations that lack Amtrak or law-enforcement personnel, raising concerns about whether anyone would be available to respond if a problem arose. TWU is calling on the federal government to reverse the policy. Its Local 1460 represents Amtrak onboard service employees, including train attendants and café staff.