4 ms·

If nations applied the same silly security theater to trains that they force upon aircraft, the train advantage would be cut to ~2hr trips.

lmm 13y ago
Trains are harder to crash into buildings, so hopefully sanity will prevail. (The Madrid train bombs happened and no excessive security was applied as a result)
switch007 13y ago
Spain does have slightly enhanced security for long-distance train journeys. At Malaga, for example, there are "security" checks and closing times. Advice by RailEurope is to arrive 30 mins prior to departure...
dragonwriter 13y ago
A hijacked train doesn't make as good an improvised missile as a hijacked plane, so the threat profile isn't the same -- so its not surprising that the security treatment is different.
- comicjk 13y ago
  Far easier just to shoot down the planes, assuming reinforced doors, air marshals, and passengers aren't enough. No, I don't think there's anything rational about it, beyond the rational calculation of shirt-term advantage by politicians.
  - dragonwriter 13y ago
    > Far easier just to shoot down the planes Not if they are taken control of near their targets. Prevention is clearly better than response. > No, I don't think there's anything rational about it To the extent that some of the actual measures are theater, they are theater that has a real reason for being presented in the particular context they are presented in. Some of them may be irrational as security measures, but they aren't completely arbitrary.
    - deleted 13y ago
      [deleted]
bergie 13y ago
This is one of the major advantages of trains vs planes, together with stations usually being in city centres. However, I've had my share of security theatre with trains as well... At least with EuroStar from London to Brussels, and with bullet trains leaving from Madrid.
- EdwardDiego 13y ago
  > At least with EuroStar from London to Brussels Yeah, true, but in my (admittedly limited experience of international travel), it was very painless compared to airports simply due to having more staff available.
  - alexeisadeski3 13y ago
    Imagine how much money could be saved by redirecting HSR funds towards faster passenger processing and screening at airports. Just as much time saved (or more?) for dramatically less money, right?

lmm 13y ago

Trains are harder to crash into buildings, so hopefully sanity will prevail. (The Madrid train bombs happened and no excessive security was applied as a result)

switch007 13y ago

Spain does have slightly enhanced security for long-distance train journeys. At Malaga, for example, there are "security" checks and closing times. Advice by RailEurope is to arrive 30 mins prior to departure...

dragonwriter 13y ago

A hijacked train doesn't make as good an improvised missile as a hijacked plane, so the threat profile isn't the same -- so its not surprising that the security treatment is different.

comicjk 13y ago
Far easier just to shoot down the planes, assuming reinforced doors, air marshals, and passengers aren't enough. No, I don't think there's anything rational about it, beyond the rational calculation of shirt-term advantage by politicians.
- dragonwriter 13y ago
  > Far easier just to shoot down the planes Not if they are taken control of near their targets. Prevention is clearly better than response. > No, I don't think there's anything rational about it To the extent that some of the actual measures are theater, they are theater that has a real reason for being presented in the particular context they are presented in. Some of them may be irrational as security measures, but they aren't completely arbitrary.
  - deleted 13y ago
    [deleted]

bergie 13y ago

This is one of the major advantages of trains vs planes, together with stations usually being in city centres. However, I've had my share of security theatre with trains as well... At least with EuroStar from London to Brussels, and with bullet trains leaving from Madrid.

EdwardDiego 13y ago
> At least with EuroStar from London to Brussels Yeah, true, but in my (admittedly limited experience of international travel), it was very painless compared to airports simply due to having more staff available.
- alexeisadeski3 13y ago
  Imagine how much money could be saved by redirecting HSR funds towards faster passenger processing and screening at airports. Just as much time saved (or more?) for dramatically less money, right?