Amtrak Bans Galaxy Note 7 Phone From Trains And Stations
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – A week after airlines banned the use of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on flight, Amtrak has followed suit issuing a warning over social media that use of the devices is not permitted on trains, buses, stations and platforms.
Samsung has recalled more than 2.5 million of the smartphones, citing a battery manufacturing error and potential fire hazard. The South Korean company has discontinued the product less than two months after its August release.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says there have been nearly 100 reports of batteries in Note 7 phones overheating in the U.S. One fire erupted on a Southwest Airlines flight earlier this month. In another case, a family in St. Petersburg, Florida, reported a Galaxy Note 7 phone left charging in their Jeep caught fire, destroying the vehicle.
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The Federal Aviation Administration had previously warned passengers not to pack the phones in their checked bags and to power them off and not charge them while on board planes.
"We recognize that banning these phones from airlines will inconvenience some passengers, but the safety of all those aboard an aircraft must take priority," said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "We are taking this additional step because even one fire incident inflight poses a high risk of severe personal injury and puts many lives at risk."
Despite the highly publicized recall, Aptelgent -- a San Francisco-based software company that tracks mobile usage – says there are still are 1 million Galaxy Note 7 phones in use.
