3 ms·

So we allowed people to go on trains in large number without lengthy security checks but not for airline travelers? What's the difference?

by kiba 10y ago

patrickmay 10y ago
It's hard to fly a train into a building. (That doesn't excuse the TSA's security theater, obviously.)
- scrollaway 10y ago
  It's also easier to stop a train, get off a train, or prevent collateral damage in case of malice/accident. Survivors are also a lot more likely if there is an accident, mostly because of gravity.
  - jagger27 10y ago
    Very true. Even in the worst train derailments you never hear that there were no survivors.
    - Declanomous 10y ago
      Assuming passenger trains of course. I think a freight hijacking is far more likely. The danger posed by a hijacked freight are evident from the huge numbers of lives lost from exploding petroleum trains over the past few decades.
- hueving 10y ago
  TSA isn't really for hijack protection, that was solved quite quickly after 9/11 with effectively impenetrable cockpits. It's really for preventing destruction of the plane itself. A large bomb on a train underground could cause way casualties, which is why the strictness of the TSA is puzzling.
  - joering2 10y ago
    If it really puzzles you then read a little bit on Michael Chertoff and immediately all pieces of the puzzle will click. Hint: its all about money. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Chertoff https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Chertoff Google is your friend but this is good piece: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/31/AR2009123102821.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12...
eli 10y ago
There are occasional random security screening for trains. Amusingly you can choose to decline them and not board, which makes it even more of a theatrical display than usual. I guess it's for the terrorists who want to get caught?
- jrockway 10y ago
  Gives the police something to do other than ticket bicyclists for riding slightly outside the blocked bike lane.

So we allowed people to go on trains in large number without lengthy security checks but not for airline travelers? What's the difference?

by kiba 10y ago

So we allowed people to go on trains in large number without lengthy security checks but not for airline travelers? What's the difference?

patrickmay 10y ago

It's hard to fly a train into a building. (That doesn't excuse the TSA's security theater, obviously.)

scrollaway 10y ago
It's also easier to stop a train, get off a train, or prevent collateral damage in case of malice/accident. Survivors are also a lot more likely if there is an accident, mostly because of gravity.
- jagger27 10y ago
  Very true. Even in the worst train derailments you never hear that there were no survivors.
  - Declanomous 10y ago
    Assuming passenger trains of course. I think a freight hijacking is far more likely. The danger posed by a hijacked freight are evident from the huge numbers of lives lost from exploding petroleum trains over the past few decades.
hueving 10y ago
TSA isn't really for hijack protection, that was solved quite quickly after 9/11 with effectively impenetrable cockpits. It's really for preventing destruction of the plane itself. A large bomb on a train underground could cause way casualties, which is why the strictness of the TSA is puzzling.
- joering2 10y ago
  If it really puzzles you then read a little bit on Michael Chertoff and immediately all pieces of the puzzle will click. Hint: its all about money. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Chertoff https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Chertoff Google is your friend but this is good piece: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/31/AR2009123102821.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12...

eli 10y ago

There are occasional random security screening for trains. Amusingly you can choose to decline them and not board, which makes it even more of a theatrical display than usual. I guess it's for the terrorists who want to get caught?

jrockway 10y ago
Gives the police something to do other than ticket bicyclists for riding slightly outside the blocked bike lane.