Passengers Face Tighter Security on Trains, Ships

Amid new federal warnings of possible terrorist threats this summer, security has been tightened on the rails and at sea.

Amtrak, the debt-ridden national railroad system that recently received a promise of a fresh infusion of federal cash, last week began limiting passengers to two pieces of carry-on luggage and said it would require identification tags on most such items. Purses, laptops, briefcases and what it called “infant accessories” such as car seats and strollers are not counted in the carry-on limit.

Since fall, Amtrak has required identification on checked baggage. Passengers can use their own identification tags or those supplied by train crews, officials said.

Carnival Cruise Lines is “trying to phase in a more strict posture” on the personal identification it requires of passengers in the boarding process, spokeswoman Jennifer de la Cruz said last week.

The cruise company has required a photo identification plus proof of citizenship, such as a passport, an original or certified copy of a birth certificate, military identification or naturalization papers. But Carnival has not always strictly enforced its policy, and anywhere from a dozen to scores of passengers, especially repeat guests, typically arrive each day for Carnival cruises without the proper papers, De la Cruz said.

Carnival in the last few weeks has been faxing travel agents and contacting customers to remind them of the policy. De la Cruz said the crackdown wasn’t prompted by any particular incident.