NYC Amtrak Restrictions: Who Can Ride the Train in Pennsylvania Station?

Amtrak is considering a major shift in its policy on firearms, potentially allowing passengers to bring guns aboard most of its trains by storing them in lockboxes, according to multiple reports. The proposed change, which could begin testing soon, would expand access to firearms on more than 1,500 trains daily, including routes serving the Northeast Corridor, where hundreds of thousands of passengers travel each day. This move comes despite the recent arrest of a man who allegedly traveled by Amtrak from California to Washington, D.C., with a shotgun and semiautomatic pistol, intending to assassinate President Donald Trump and other administration officials at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

The incident, which occurred on May 3, 2026, saw Cole Tomas Allen arrested after attempting to rush past security barricades near the event. A Secret Service officer was shot in the bullet-resistant vest and survived. Authorities say Allen purchased a one-way Amtrak ticket from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., via Chicago, and booked a rideshare from his home in Torrance, California, to Los Angeles Union Station before boarding the train on April 21.

Under current Amtrak policy, passengers must declare firearms and secure them unloaded in a hard case, with guns only permitted in checked baggage on a limited number of long-distance trains equipped with locked baggage cars. The proposed rule change would allow guns on most trains, with lockboxes installed and conductors holding the keys. However, it remains unclear how Amtrak would verify passengers’ legal right to carry firearms or ensure compliance with local laws.

Critics, including the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety, argue that the policy change would decrease safety. John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, stated:

“Just days after a man took an Amtrak train to Washington with a shotgun and pistol and tried to assassinate the president and other federal officials, the Trump Administration is trying to open the floodgates for firearms on every Amtrak route, while also moving to hollow out the agency responsible for enforcing gun laws and preventing gun trafficking. This will only make Americans less safe and Congress must step in before the next tragedy.”

John Feinblatt, Everytown for Gun Safety

Amtrak and the Transportation Department have not yet responded to requests for comment on the proposed policy change.

The push to ease restrictions on firearms comes after months of pressure from the Trump administration, according to sources familiar with the proposal. The change would significantly expand the number of trains allowing firearms, from a few dozen long-distance routes to over 1,500 daily trains, including those in the Northeast Corridor, which serves approximately 750,000 passengers each day.

While the proposal requires guns to remain locked up and accessible only to conductors, critics question how effectively Amtrak can enforce these measures, especially given the recent security breach involving a would-be assassin.

As the debate continues, the safety and security implications of the proposed policy remain a central concern for lawmakers, advocacy groups, and the public.