Not to get full-on conspiracy here but you’re assuming airport security is for your (passengers) safety. The event that led to strict airport security was that planes were used to attack corporations (World Trade Center) and the government. Trains can’t get hijacked and driven into the Pentagon so no one cares. But I admit this is a bleak view.

So why does there need to be more safety stuff on intercity rail than on a subway? Oh wait, not that they get any ideas …