When I went to Philadelphia after getting the 19 dollar rate at the Westin Philadelphia I took Amtrak.

Nice, relatively quick one hour ride. But the wierd thing was that I took my out my ID (I have a state ID since I don't drive... ) The ticket checker on teh train and the person at Philly on the trip back did not even blink or look at ID.

It seems unusual since you need ID at the airports (of course) and even when you pick up packages at teh Post Office. Some stores even ask for ID (like the Apple stores) when you pay with a credit card.

Could this be a secure lapse on behalf of Amtrak? Someone could buy a ticket and then be someone else. IN fact the ticket checkers barely checked if the name matched the person handing over the ticket.

Just found it unusual.