Why VIA Rail and Amtrak Adhere to Airplane Style Boarding: An Examination of Historical and Security Practices

While many modern rail systems worldwide, including continental European ones, have adopted open access to platforms, North American rail giants VIA Rail and Amtrak continue to utilize an older, more restricted boarding process. This method bears a striking resemblance to airplane style boarding, with gates opened only moments before the train departs. Let's explore the historical and security reasons behind this practice and how it mirrors modern aviation conventions.

Historical Context

When railways first began, and for at least a century afterwards, access to platforms at major terminals was strictly controlled. A peculiar item called a “platform ticket” was required of anyone who wished to accompany travelers to their train, even if they were not themselves a paying passenger.1 This form of controlled access was a tradeoff between security and convenience.

As security measures evolved in the 20th century, continental European rail systems eventually found that controlling platform access became more trouble than it was worth by the 1970s. With the advent of electronic ticketing and decreasing incidence of fraud, barriers with ticket readers became more commonplace, particularly in commuter environments. Free platform access, once a standard practice, is now a less common sight in many parts of the world.

North American Trends: Compact Platforms and Comfortable Concourses

In North American big-city terminals, the situation is quite different. Platform space is often narrow and constrained, while the concourse or waiting rooms stretch vast and architecturally impressive. These areas offer both comfort and security. For this reason, keeping passengers away from the platforms and allowing them to wait in the safer, more spacious concourses is highly beneficial. The congested and sometimes hazardous platforms, including moving trains, serve as a strong rationale for maintaining this practice.

Contrast this with the boarding process. Once the train is set to depart, the gates are opened, and passengers enter the platform. This method mirrors the convention seen in airplanes, where passengers remain in secure areas until just before boarding, thus preventing accidental wanderings into operational areas of the airport or railway terminal.

Apparent Influence of Airline Practices

While it might seem that the airplane style boarding has directly influenced railways in North America, the adoption of these practices has been bidirectional. Over the past century, airlines have often adopted conventions from rail travel and passenger ships, including security measures. More recently, innovations in the aviation industry have been adapted by rail operators. However, the airplane style boarding in North American cities is not a direct result of this influence but rather a parallel development aimed at enhancing security and managing space efficiently.

The secure perimeter of the airplane, where passengers wait until the last minute, has coincidentally become a familiar sight in North American city rail terminals, creating a visual and operational resemblance. It is important to note that both methods serve similar security and convenience purposes, even though they may have developed independently.

Conclusion

The continued use of airplane style boarding by VIA Rail and Amtrak in North America is a blend of historical necessity, current security concerns, and a practical solution to the limitations of city rail terminals. While this method may seem outdated to some, it effectively balances the needs of security, passenger safety, and efficiency. As technology continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these practices adapt and possibly converge even further.

Footnotes

The platform ticket was a device that allowed individuals to access the platform without purchasing a train ticket of their own. Its purpose was to ensure that only paying passengers could board trains, enhancing the sense of order and security in an era when ticket buying and boarding were more manual processes. ??