Amtrak to do random screenings of passengers' carry-on bags

Jet, March 10, 2008 by Margena A. Christian

In an effort to beef up safety on trains, Amtrak is adding extra security measures. Passengers' carry-on bags will be randomly screened, and officers with automatic weapons and bomb-sniffing dogs will patrol platforms and ride trains.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Amtrak, unlike airlines, had relatively little visible increase in security since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Travelers eager to avoid airport hassles-security checkpoints, extra early check-ins, etc.-often opted for the train to bypass delays and long wait times.

Officials assured that the new procedures would not delay the passenger flow, nor would it require passengers to arrive at stations far in advance.

"On-time performance is a key element of Amtrak service," Bill Rooney, Amtrak's vice president for security strategy and special operations, told the Associated Press. "We are fully mindful of that. This is not about train delays."

Those selected for the random screenings, according to Alex Kummant, Amtrak chief executive, would not be delayed more than a couple of minutes.

The new "mobile security teams" will first begin in the Northeast Corridor between Washington and Boston, which is the railroad's most heavily used route, before it affects the rest of the country.

Teams will show up unannounced at stations and set up baggage screening areas in front of boarding gates.

"What we are trying to do is make sure the bad guys know we're out there but don't know where we'll be, or when," Rooney said.

People will be randomly pulled out of line by officers so that they may wipe their bags with a special swab that is then put through a machine that detects explosives. If something is detected, officers will open the bag for visual inspection.

Those selected but refusing to submit to screening will not be allowed to board the train and their ticket will not be refunded.

--Margena A. Christian with AP reports