I was catching a bus to Boston from the Port Authority two Fridays ago.

Apparently the bus to Foxwoods is a terrorist favorite, because Greyhound was searching people's baggage and using a handheld metal detector on them.

The best part about it was that they weren't searching you right before you boarded the bus (which would make sense), they were searching you while you were waiting in line by calling you up to the front of the line, searching/metal detecting, then letting you go back to the end of the line.

The terminal was crowded and there was no attempt to make sure that people who had already been OKed didn't get out of line, go pick up something dangerous and then get back in line, or have someone pass you something while you were waiting in line. Once you were screened initially, you were clear.

I think this is the worse "security" plan I've seen yet. Even aside from the inconvenience of it, it provided no security at all. Not a bit.

What kind of grave sin did you commit to deserve such a fate?

If you are going to do NYC to Boston by bus, please consider the LimoLiner!

http://www.limoliner.com/

Bizarre and stupid... many Mexican bus lines screen pax, but it is done with a hand held metal detector at the entrance to the bus.

Amateurs

LimoLiner's problem, as I see it, is that it's about the same price as Acela.

And Acela's big advantage is that it's not subject to highway traffic.

Just derailments and striking vehicles and people at crossings.

Yes, but it's safer than highway travel. Especially with the Chinatown drivers who are talking on two handheld cell phones at the same time while doing 75 on the shoulder

I'd rather be in an Acela (actually the older Metroliners are even more massive) than in a car or an airplane when striking a vehicle or terrain.

There was a derailment at New Haven a few days ago. No injuries. When was the last death on an Amtrak train, not including pedestrians or vehicles at grade crossings -- just the real train passengers -- in the Boston-Washington sector (where Amtrak controls the dispatching)? I know there have been a few in Virginia in the past few years.

We use to call that DWO

Driving While Oriental


(No offense, just fact)

I wish they'd get seatbelts on these things, however. I'm willing to bet that most of the injuries in a bus or train accident are caused by people being thrown around.


Having been in a bus accident a few months ago, my first hand empirical evidence confirms my opinion. (Fortunately, I'm good in emergencies; I immediately braced myself using the seat in front of me and was one of the few people out of ~55 who walked away perfectly fine.)

When I travel by train (not that often) I always pick a seat facing backwards to the direction of travel. My companions are usually puzzled - conventional wisdom being that a forward facing seat is preferable. I reply that it's safer in the event of a crash or sudden stop.