New Amtrak security measures: 'Avoid hand lotion and golf'

In today's Washington Post Travel section, "Coming and Going" (CoGo) columnist Cindy Loose offers advice on how to minimize the likelihood of your being pulled out of line when about to board an Amtrak train.

Long story short: Glycerides used in many hand lotions can prompt false positives for explosives residue; the nitrates used in fertilizer, when detected on your golf clubs or shoes, will also register on detection machinery.

Here's the piece.

Coming And Going: Amtrak Security Changes

News that Amtrak will be randomly selecting passengers and swabbing their bags for explosives inspired CoGo to remind travelers to beware of false positives that could lead to your bags being searched. One common ingredient that can prompt false positives: the glycerides used in many hand lotions. Tip: Don't slick up before packing , even if you suffer from dry hands.

The nitrates used in fertilizer also can be picked up by explosive-trace-detection machines, so wipe down your golf clubs or, if you have a nitrate-happy lawn service, the shoes you pack.

Generally, though, Amtrak promises that new security measures will not delay trains or require passengers to arrive at stations far in advance, as is required for airline flights. Random passengers chosen to have their bags scrutinized will be delayed for no more than a couple of minutes, according to Amtrak's chief executive, Alex Kummant. (CoGo assumes that promise does not extend to anyone actually carrying explosives.)

The most visible change: bomb-sniffing dogs and counterterrorism agents wearing tactical uniforms and carrying automatic weapons patrolling stations and trains. Plainclothes officers, too, are part of the new "mobile security teams." They will begin working on the busy Northeast corridor, between Washington and Boston, and later across the country. For security reasons, Amtrak will not reveal when the new procedures will begin.

Kummant said the action is simply the right thing to do and is not a response to any new or specific threat.

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"For security reasons, Amtrak will not reveal when the new procedures will begin" — file under "Why are we not surprised?"