New security protocol at Amtrak

Amtrak just announced that it’s upping its security, starting with the Northeast Corridor between Washington and Boston.

With words like “deploy” and “Mobile Security Team” in the official news release, Amtrak lists its new plans, from the “See Something, Say Something” program to security awareness training for the Amtrak workforce. Most noticable to the average passenger will be the random screening of carry-on bags, and the sight of officers carrying automatic weapons and bomb-sniffing dogs patrolling platforms and trains.

Let’s hope that it’s not reflective of other delays at Amtrak, but I’m surprised to learn that is the first increase in security for Amtrak since 9/11/01. We all remember that trains in Madrid, London, and Mumbai have been the targets of terrorists in the past few years. The US train world is finally taking notice—literally copying the security systems that have been implemented in New York, Boston, Madrid, and London.

There are questions about how tight the security could really be, and speculation that profiling could sour the system.

But assuming that the dollar continues its decline and the price of gas continues its rise, train travel might be in for a strong year. Knowing the number of people potentially taking to the trains, and knowing that our security is lagging already, I think that a new system—even if not ideal—can only help.