Hogwarts Express vulnerable?

[Eustace_Scrubb]

No: HPFGUIDX 93662

I know many people expect a climactic battle at Hogwarts in Book
Seven, and it certainly seems appropriate for the series to end in
that way.

But wouldn't the Hogwarts Express on September 1 be a more effective
way for LV to attack the school?  As far as we know, _all_ students
normally use the Express to get to school (barring the occasional
entrance via Ford Anglia or the Knight Bus), apparently even those who
must go out of their way (I know, only by muggle standards) to go to
London rather than directly to northern Scotland.  Most years we
(through Harry) haven't noticed any teachers on the train, have we? 
(Lupin's the exception)  We've heard about the lady who pushes the
sweets trolley and the engine driver...any other adults?

I assume that there are various charms and protective spells on the
train and Platform 9 3/4.   But how powerful are they?  And it's quite
probable Order members will be escorting Harry there _if_ he goes by
train in Years 6 and 7.  But we know that under the right
circumstances, the train can be stopped en route (Dementors searching
for Sirius Black).  Presumably there was an arrangement between Fudge
and Dumbledore to allow this, but Dumbledore must have believed that a
security breach was possible or he would never have let it happen.  So
if he was worried that Black could have gotten aboard, then it doesn't
seem too far fetched to assume that various Death Eaters (we don't
know who all of them are, do we?) could infiltrate the Platform to
create mayhem...possibly abetted by their like-minded offspring.

Hasn't JKR said that muggles will begin to notice strange things going
on?  Perhaps an attack that makes them aware of Platform 9 3/4 will be
one of those things.  If LV has the opportunity to decimate the forces
opposing him, he certainly wouldn't mind some muggle casualties in the
bargain.  In fact, that might make it all the more attractive to him.

The more I think about this, the more it gives me the creeps (for one
thing, I'm a train lover).   But if LV is as evil as we are to believe
he is (and not just a Bondian diabolical fool), I would certainly not
put it past him.

Eustace_Scrubb