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U.S. to Test Program for Screening Rail Passengers
In the wake of this month's train bombings in Madrid, the United States plans to tighten security on trains and mass transit systems by testing a program to screen passengers and their bags and expanding the use of bomb sniffing dogs. "We are adding several new layers of security that we believe will help reduce vulnerabilities to our systems and make commuters and transit riders more secure aboard our nation's trains and subways," Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge told a news conference on Monday. "The bombings in Madrid are a solemn reminder that terrorists continue to expose and exploit our vulnerabilities," he said of the March 11 attacks on four commuter trains that killed more than 200 people and injured about 1,800. Ridge said his agency has already asked subway systems, commuter and freight rail networks and Amtrak to maintain a heightened state of alert. But a central challenge is to balance the ease of U.S. rail travel, where passengers currently are not subjected to any security checks, with the need for practical and affordable countermeasures. Ridge's announcement came one day before senior homeland security and rail officials are scheduled to testify before a Senate committee that is pressing for increased rail security.
Impeccable timing, Tom, almost as if you'd planned it.
Ridge offered no cost estimates for the new initiatives but defended his agency's handling of rail security. The additional security measures will include a pilot program to test the feasibility of screening passengers and their bags for explosives on commuter and Amtrak trains. Ridge said the program would not be similar to the multibillion-dollar system developed at U.S. airports since the Sept. 11 attacks. A government source said security officials would try screening technologies this spring to see what works best and would initially limit the program to one station.
Posted by: Steve White 2004-03-23
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=28848