Sacramento, Calif. (AP) - Passengers will soon be allowed to carry guns aboard some Amtrak trains.

The Sacramento Bee says gun rights advocates pushed for an order by Congress to reverse a near decade-long gun ban on the government-owned rail corporation.

Beginning Dec. 15, guns can be carried aboard trains that have checked baggage service.

Gun owners must inform Amtrak officials 24 hours ahead of departure, and unloaded firearms must be packed in hard-sided containers for storage in train lockers.

Rail cars are being retrofitted with weapons storage lockers.