Amtrak bans recalled Samsung phones from trains

Amtrak has become the latest transportation organization to prohibit passengers from carrying recalled Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones during transit.

{mosads}The passenger rail system implemented the ban over the weekend, citing the device’s potential fire hazard. Amtrak said the phone is not allowed on trains, platforms or connecting buses.

The move follows a string of reports that the lithium ion batteries in Galaxy Note 7 phones were overheating and causing some of the devices to catch fire, including on two recent airline flights.

“The safety of our passengers and employees is paramount. Effective immediately, Samsung Galaxy Note 7 cell phones are not permitted on Amtrak property due to potential serious safety risks,” Amtrak said in a statement to CNET. “This ban includes Amtrak trains, Thruway buses, facilities, stations, platforms, Amtrak vehicles, and as an item carried within a vehicle on Auto Train.”

Amtrak joins the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in banning passengers from transporting the potentially explosive device.

The FAA announced earlier this month that airline passengers are prohibited from bringing all Galaxy Note 7s — including replacement devices — onto a flight or storing them in carry-on or checked baggage. The agency warned that any travelers who violate the ban may face fines and possible criminal prosecution.

Samsung is giving travelers at some airports the chance to trade in their recalled smartphones before boarding a flight.

The South Korean-based company has ceased production and global sales of the device while it investigates the reported incidents, and Samsung is urging consumers with an original or replacement Note 7 to power down the device and take advantage of the available remedies.