Christmas Travel: Keeping America's Trains Safe
Dec. 22, 2010— -- ABOARD THE ACELA EXPRESS -- More than 28 million people each year ride on TEXTAmtrak trains and keeping them safe from terrorists or others who want to cause harm is no easy task.
Unlike airports, which have limited points of entry and in-your-face security, the nation's train stations are generally open and security measures are less obvious. While fliers are advised to show up hours before a flight, Amtrak passengers often rush up to the platform minutes before the train pulls away.
The world was reminded that trains can be targets back in 2004 when terrorists bombed several commuter trains in Madrid just three days before Spain's general elections. The 10 explosions on four separate trains killed 191 people and wounded more than 1,800.
In America, Amtrak officials are well-aware of the risks but also know that if they were to ever implement airport-style security at train stations, it would grind the system to a halt. So they need to find a way to keep passengers safe, but not slow travel.
That's where Sgt. Robert A. Smith and his black Labrador retriever Zorro come in.
Each morning they set out at random stations or on trains and search for anything out of place.
"He's an incredible partner but also an incredible sophisticated tool in detecting explosives," Smith said.
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They are just one of roughly 50 K-9 teams that the Amtrak Police department has deployed across the country. The department has 400 sworn officers that operate in the 46 states that Amtrak serves, according to Chief John O'Connor.
