Amtrak bans photographers from station platforms.

[WMAveteran]

TRAINS Magazine News Wire reported on March 12, 2009 that "Amtrak has released a new photograhy policy that bans photographers without tickets from station platforms."  ". . . it specifically states that station platforms are for ticketed passengers only.  For their part, ticketed passengers will be able to take photos from station platforms while preparing to board a train or immediately after getting off one."  Needless to say, the NRHS does not approve and intends to get Amtrak to change the policy. 

[LandoverDivision]

Why? That's stupid. But I never went on platforms anyway.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

TRAINS Magazine News Wire reported on March 12, 2009 that "Amtrak has released a new photograhy policy that bans photographers without tickets from station platforms."  ". . . it specifically states that station platforms are for ticketed passengers only.  For their part, ticketed passengers will be able to take photos from station platforms while preparing to board a train or immediately after getting off one."  Needless to say, the NRHS does not approve and intends to get Amtrak to change the policy. 

That has always been the policy, they really just reworded it.  However, it is my understanding that rule only applies in places where Amtrak actually owns the platform.  For example, if you wanted to take photos from the Martin State MARC platform, you would be subject to MTA Maryland rules, not Amtrak.  I also imagine that in more rural areas, the must be ticketed to be on the platform rule isn't going to be enforced.  When I rode Amtrak cross country, there were often people on the platforms sending off their loved ones or waiting for them to arrive.  I think the real intent of the wording of the rule is to give Amtrak the ability to restrict people without tickets from accessing the platforms at major stations where such people are more likely to be an intererence to operations, such as WAS, PHL, NYP, BOS, and CHI.