Amtrak outlines security features

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, February, 2008 | by Paul Nussbaum Inquirer Staff Writer

Amtrak's new 15-member security teams, heavily armed and "exceedingly polite," will show up in force this week at Northeast rail stations, trying to secure a system that is inherently vulnerable to terrorist attack. The new security measures, including random searches of ticket holders before they board, are designed to balance safety and convenience, Amtrak officials said yesterday.

Unlike air travelers, train passengers will not be required to walk through metal detectors or take off their shoes, and trains will not be delayed by the searches. The centerpiece of the inspection strategy will be a portable explosive-residue detector. About the size of a loaf of bread, the tabletop detector will be set up in stations, and passengers will be randomly selected for inspection,...