Amtrak to search bags, add special agents

0 Comments | Philadelphia Daily News, February, 2008 | by CHRISTINE OLLEY olleyc@phillynews.com 215-854-5184

Amtrak announced a security initiative yesterday that will involve random baggage searches and patrols by armed special agents at train stations from Washington to Boston.

So, next time you are at 30th Street Station you might see Amtrak police, bomb-sniffing dogs and armed counter-terrorism agents sweeping trains, platforms and passenger's baggage for anything suspicious.

"We have implemented a lot of security procedures since September 11, [2001]," said Karina Romero, spokeswoman for Amtrak.

"But since security measures are meant to protect people, many of them have been invisible to the passengers," Romero said.

"We are announcing this new initiative today because it will directly affect the passengers in the form of random baggage...