WASHINGTON – Amtrak has released a new photography policy that bans photographers without tickets from station platforms. The policy, which comes in the wake of an embarrassing case of photographer harassment in New York’s Penn Station, was hashed out with input from the National Press Photographer’s Association.

The guidelines specifically permit photography in “public access areas” on Amtrak property, which it defines as “[a]n area open to general public access and occupancy that is not otherwise posted or restricted by posted signs or locking devices.” However, it specifically states that station platforms are for ticketed passengers only. For their part, ticketed passengers will be able to take photos from station platforms while preparing to board a train or immediately after getting off one.

Walter Zullig, a regional vice president for the National Railway Historical Society and an attorney, lambasted the new policy in an interview with TRAINS News Wire today. “It’s been done to enhance their legal position,” Zullig said. “It does not help at all enhancing railroad photography, and I think it’s really a poor way to treat your best friends.”

Zullig said the NRHS encourages members to railfan from station platforms because they’re safe. The new Amtrak policy, though, apparently will unreasonably prohibit that in most cases. “We can understand it in a place like Penn Station in New York or Union Station in Washington or 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, where they control access to the platform,” Zullig said. “But they’ve written this in a way that could apply to Truckee, Calif. It’s overkill.”

Zullig said his group will push to get Amtrak to change the policy.

An Amtrak spokesman didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment.