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What is Amtrak Virginia?

Thundar

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Newport News, Virginia, USA
Governor McDonnell Announces Amtrak Virginia to Norfolk to Start December 12, 2012

“The partnership between the Commonwealth and Amtrak to bring an Amtrak Virginia station to the city of Norfolk reflects my administration’s commitment to continue to make progress in improving our transportation networks for the state,” said Governor McDonnell. “Amtrak Virginia is a program developed by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and Amtrak to provide more rail travel choices in Virginia. The new service promotes economic, tourism and environmental benefits. For more information visit amtrakvirginia.com.

Link: http://www.amtrakvirginia.com/news.aspx


Thelma Drake runs DRPT as a Virginia Agency. AMTRAK Virginia Tickets are sold from a link on the Virginia.Gov website.

Virginia has spent serious coin to develop the corridor for train service to Norfolk.

So 2 questions:

1. Without a Commonwealth of Virginia Regulation or Law authorizing the prohibition of firearms on AMTRAK Virginia Program trains, can we open carry on AMTRAK Virginia Trains in the Commonwealth?


2. AMTRAK Police get their authority from the State they work in. Without legal authority to ban open carriers from public transportation in the Commonwealth, how would AMTRAK Police be able to enforce the AMTRAK weapons ban in the Commonwealth?
 

peter nap

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Don't know. Maybe Bob can put up a toll booth in the parking lot so TSA can get involved:uhoh:
 

skidmark

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Amtrak Virginia appears to be Amtrak's presence in Virginia - http://www.amtrakvirginia.com/ .

My guess is that all existing Amtrak rules are in force - which includes only unloaded guns in TSA-approved containers in checked baggage placed o board a minimum of 30 minutes before departure only if notice was provided to Amtrak at least 24 hours in advance. See all the rules at http://www.amtrak.com/firearms-in-checked-baggage

2. AMTRAK Police get their authority from the State they work in. Without legal authority to ban open carriers from public transportation in the Commonwealth, how would AMTRAK Police be able to enforce the AMTRAK weapons ban in the Commonwealth?

If I am not mistaken, that is more regarding their grant to exercise police power and pertains mostly to minimum qualifications for sworn personel. My gut says that since Amtrak is a quasi-governmental corporation, like USPS, they claim "authority" under federal rules as opposed to state rules.

Compare Amtrak Virginia with VRE, the commuter rail service from Fredericksburg and Manassas to DC. http://www.vre.org/ There is nothing prohibiting OC on VRE as long as you stay in Virginia. Same for the Merto subway/bus system.

Bottom line? Amtrak has increased its service from Va Beach through Norfolk to DC via Richmond. Whoopee!

stay safe.
 

peter nap

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If I am not mistaken, that is more regarding their grant to exercise police power and pertains mostly to minimum qualifications for sworn personel. My gut says that since Amtrak is a quasi-governmental corporation, like USPS, they claim "authority" under federal rules as opposed to state rules.

I expect you're right Skid. Railroads pretty well wrote the Federal Transportation laws back when and its been a long time since I looked at the Virginia Statute, I think it says the Circuit Court certifies them with no mention of Academy Training, Etc.

I echo your excitement....Whoopie, oh yeah, big deal.:rolleyes:
 

Thundar

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2007
Messages
4,946
Location
Newport News, Virginia, USA
Amtrak Virginia appears to be Amtrak's presence in Virginia - http://www.amtrakvirginia.com/ .

My guess is that all existing Amtrak rules are in force - which includes only unloaded guns in TSA-approved containers in checked baggage placed o board a minimum of 30 minutes before departure only if notice was provided to Amtrak at least 24 hours in advance. See all the rules at http://www.amtrak.com/firearms-in-checked-baggage



If I am not mistaken, that is more regarding their grant to exercise police power and pertains mostly to minimum qualifications for sworn personel. My gut says that since Amtrak is a quasi-governmental corporation, like USPS, they claim "authority" under federal rules as opposed to state rules.

Compare Amtrak Virginia with VRE, the commuter rail service from Fredericksburg and Manassas to DC. http://www.vre.org/ There is nothing prohibiting OC on VRE as long as you stay in Virginia. Same for the Merto subway/bus system.

Bottom line? Amtrak has increased its service from Va Beach through Norfolk to DC via Richmond. Whoopee!

stay safe.

The AMTRAK Virginia link is a Virginia Gov link, not an Amtrak Link. You did say it was a guess Skid. Guess I will push it and see how they respond.
 

skidmark

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Jan 15, 2007
Messages
10,444
Location
Valhalla
The AMTRAK Virginia link is a Virginia Gov link, not an Amtrak Link. You did say it was a guess Skid. Guess I will push it and see how they respond.

Push all you want.* The site being a Va gov't site as opposed to A Railway Corp of Ameerica site has nothing to do with whether or not you can OC on Amtrak or not, or if Amtrak cops can arrest you as opposed to needing to call a local LEO to arrest you.

The site was erected by the Dept of Rail and Public Transportation - their basic charge is to get folks to get out of their automobiles and into mass transit -- mostly so they can apply for even larger federal grants to expand mass transit. Thus, publicizing the Amtrak routes. The holiday tours kinda-sorta falls in line with that, but I would call it a cooperative venture with The Virginia Tourism Corp, which is in reality the Virginia Tourism Authority http://www.vatc.org/administration/mission/ .

stay safe.

*
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