Amtrak and Their Stations

[thatguyoverthere]

We're treating the grandkids to a little train trip during their school spring break next week. I'm gonna put grandma and the two grandsons on the Amtrak train at Union Station in Dallas. I'll board the train with them, to make sure they're settled in ok. But then I will get off and they will ride the train over to Longview while I drive the car to Longview to pick them up at the station there.

So in looking over the information I could find on the Amtrak website and others, it looks like (as I suspected) that I cannot carry my concealed handgun on the train. Is that correct?

However, what about inside the train station, and/or on the platform outside the train? I did just a very quick search, but could not determine who owns Union Station in Dallas. My best guess is that the facility would be owned by the city of Dallas. If that is the case, then concealed carry should be legal in the station and on the station property, just not on the Amtrak train itself, correct?

I did check the Texas 30.06 website and saw no postings listed for Dallas Union Station, or the Amtrak station in Longview.

Does anyone have any actual information to supplement my guesses?

[Jusme]

We're treating the grandkids to a little train trip during their school spring break next week. I'm gonna put grandma and the two grandsons on the Amtrak train at Union Station in Dallas. I'll board the train with them, to make sure they're settled in ok. But then I will get off and they will ride the train over to Longview while I drive the car to Longview to pick them up at the station there.

So in looking over the information I could find on the Amtrak website and others, it looks like (as I suspected) that I cannot carry my concealed handgun on the train. Is that correct?

However, what about inside the train station, and/or on the platform outside the train? I did just a very quick search, but could not determine who owns Union Station in Dallas. My best guess is that the facility would be owned by the city of Dallas. If that is the case, then concealed carry should be legal in the station and on the station property, just not on the Amtrak train itself, correct?

I did check the Texas 30.06 website and saw no postings listed for Dallas Union Station, or the Amtrak station in Longview.

Does anyone have any actual information to supplement my guesses?

Since they allow OC and CC on Dart trains, as well as the Trinity rail express, I would think that the station is also non-prohibited, but I haven't been there since last year, so I can't guarantee that.

[Pariah3j]

Amtrak being backed by the Federal government, I always assumed their facilities would fall under federal guidelines.

[Jusme]

Amtrak being backed by the Federal government, I always assumed their facilities would fall under federal guidelines.

I don't think Union Station does, because it is also the Hub for DART and TRE, but I could be wrong, I CC there last year just to use the facilities while waiting on a DART train, I saw no signage then, but they may have posted it since then, or I just didn't see them then.

[Lena]

We rode the train to the St Fair last year, I called and asked If I could carry, yes I was told on the train from garland to St Fair

[Solaris]

Stations are OK, but I would not bring a gun Amtrak trains.

[Solaris]

We rode the train to the St Fair last year, I called and asked If I could carry, yes I was told on the train from garland to St Fair

That is DART, not AMTRAK

[CoffeeNut]

Stations are OK, but I would not bring a gun Amtrak trains.

I brought a firearm onto an Amtrak in California. It was in my baggage while headed to the airport. No issue whatsoever, no signage and since it was a commuter train all baggage was in my possession.

I checked everywhere for a definitive policy and it seems to depend on if you have to check bags and if you'll need to use another carrier to get to a secondary train.

[Solaris]

Stations are OK, but I would not bring a gun Amtrak trains.

I brought a firearm onto an Amtrak in California. It was in my baggage while headed to the airport. No issue whatsoever, no signage and since it was a commuter train all baggage was in my possession.

I checked everywhere for a definitive policy and it seems to depend on if you have to check bags and if you'll need to use another carrier to get to a secondary train.

The rules are easily found on their website.

[thatguyoverthere]

Stations are OK, but I would not bring a gun Amtrak trains.

I brought a firearm onto an Amtrak in California. It was in my baggage while headed to the airport. No issue whatsoever, no signage and since it was a commuter train all baggage was in my possession.

I checked everywhere for a definitive policy and it seems to depend on if you have to check bags and if you'll need to use another carrier to get to a secondary train.

Yes, I found the Amtrak policy stating that you can carry an unloaded firearm in your checked baggage, but it also seems to say that is the only way to carry a firearm on an Amtrak train.

Effective December 15, 2010, Amtrak will accept reservations of firearms and ammunition for carriage between Amtrak stations and on Amtrak trains within the United States that offer checked baggage service. Thruway Bus Services will not be included in this service change. The following policies are in effect:

Passengers failing to meet the above-mentioned requirements for checking firearms will be denied transportation.

https://www.amtrak.com/firearms-in-checked-baggage

Also found some other references on other forums and some web articles, but they basically all referred back to the Amtrak policy listed above.

So apparently just one more place that my Texas CHL is meaningless.

I think more and more about that "shall not be infringed" thing almost every day.

[CoffeeNut]

Stations are OK, but I would not bring a gun Amtrak trains.

I brought a firearm onto an Amtrak in California. It was in my baggage while headed to the airport. No issue whatsoever, no signage and since it was a commuter train all baggage was in my possession.

I checked everywhere for a definitive policy and it seems to depend on if you have to check bags and if you'll need to use another carrier to get to a secondary train.

The rules are easily found on their website.

Then why didn't you read them? You advise not bringing a gun on Amtrak trains when their policy allows for a firearms in checked baggage and you must be on the same train as your gun.

Their policy doesn't mention concealed carry whatsoever but they do state that not meeting the checked baggage requirements means denial of travel so it seems as if concealed carry is out. That said unless there is 30.06/07 language I would assume carry is just fine unless they become aware of your firearm but that seems like a question best put to an Amtrak police officer.

I don't know if Federal transportation laws or even the freight lines Amtrak travels on have prohibitions on everything but checked baggage. If you find that in their policies be sure to let me know.

[CoffeeNut]

Yes, I found the Amtrak policy stating that you can carry an unloaded firearm in your checked baggage, but it also seems to say that is the only way to carry a firearm on an Amtrak train.

Effective December 15, 2010, Amtrak will accept reservations of firearms and ammunition for carriage between Amtrak stations and on Amtrak trains within the United States that offer checked baggage service. Thruway Bus Services will not be included in this service change. The following policies are in effect:

Passengers failing to meet the above-mentioned requirements for checking firearms will be denied transportation.

https://www.amtrak.com/firearms-in-checked-baggage

Also found some other references on other forums and some web articles, but they basically all referred back to the Amtrak policy listed above.

So apparently just one more place that my Texas CHL is meaningless.

I think more and more about that "shall not be infringed" thing almost every day.

Yeah, other than unloaded and in checked bags it seems like they'd take issue. I don't know if I would conceal but at the same time Texas is pretty clear about 30.06 so if the station isn't posted and the station you'd be arriving at isn't posted then you'd only risk being kicked off the train, correct? I probably wouldn't want to face the wrath of an Amtrak cop but again 30.06 is not in any of their policies.

[Solaris]

I don't know if Federal transportation laws or even the freight lines Amtrak travels on have prohibitions on everything but checked baggage.

That pretty much sums it up. You do not know, what you do not know. Maybe you should know it before you comment on what is legal or illegal. If you think "Firearms/ammunition may not be carried in carry-on baggage" means OC/CC is GTG, try it and report back.

[CoffeeNut]

I don't know if Federal transportation laws or even the freight lines Amtrak travels on have prohibitions on everything but checked baggage.

That pretty much sums it up. You do not know, what you do not know. Maybe you should know it before you comment on what is legal or illegal. If you think "Firearms/ammunition may not be carried in carry-on baggage" means OC/CC is GTG, try it and report back.

Is that the required 30.06 or 30.07 language to prohibit the carry of handguns from their locations and all things accessible by passing through their location (to include their trains)?

The only reason I brought up the federal transportation laws was to see if someone with more knowledge than me would come along with actual law rather than company policy.

Maybe you should apply for a moderator title since you seem to want that job so badly.

[Vol Texan]

I don't know if Federal transportation laws or even the freight lines Amtrak travels on have prohibitions on everything but checked baggage.

That pretty much sums it up. You do not know, what you do not know. Maybe you should know it before you comment on what is legal or illegal. If you think "Firearms/ammunition may not be carried in carry-on baggage" means OC/CC is GTG, try it and report back.

Is that the required 30.06 or 30.07 language to prohibit the carry of handguns from their locations and all things accessible by passing through their location (to include their trains)?

The only reason I brought up the federal transportation laws was to see if someone with more knowledge than me would come along with actual law rather than company policy.

Maybe you should apply for a moderator title since you seem to want that job so badly.