Officers from British Transport Police (BTP) and Amtrak Police Department (APD), in March jointly patrolled onboard trains and at train stations along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor as part of a US and UK exchange of railroad security and counterterrorism practices.
The BTP visit was designed to solidify a security partnership between Amtrak and UK rail police by sharing lessons learned and best policing methods in use to protect rail passengers on both sides of the Atlantic.
Beginning in Washington DC’s Union Station, two uniformed BTP Sergeants, three Police Constables and Superintendent Phil Trendall jointly patrolled with APD onboard trains and at train stations. The security operations were by police and tactical forces, counter surveillance personnel, and K-9 detection units. BTP officers did similar activities at Philadelphia 30th Street Station, Baltimore Penn Station, and New York Penn Station.
BTP Superintendent Counter Terrorism Support Phil Trendall said, “This week’s activities represent a major opportunity for our two organizations to work and learn from each other. We share a determination to protect the travelling public from the threat of terrorism and sharing best practice and operational tactics is critical to our success. The message is clear: we are strengthened by our partnership and we look forward to working together in the months and years ahead.”
Amtrak Chief Operating Officer William Crosbie said: “The rail community continues to be a target worldwide, and protecting passengers from harm is paramount. If one member of the community is targeted, we all feel the effects one way or another. By sharing best police practices and lessons learned with our British counterparts and others, we can build a safer and more secure rail environment for riders internationally.”
Over the past few years, terrorist attacks, attempts and plots around the globe have specifically targeted rail and mass transit. The security implications of these activities have spurred the formation of a strong coalition of transportation and law enforcement agencies around the world.
Amtrak Police Chief John O’Connor said the parties agreed to the cross-Atlantic exchange after attending international counterterrorism rail safety conferences last year.
“During those interactions, it was determined that each organization had unique and different police practices and could learn a great deal from one another,” O’Connor said. “Without question, seeing first hand how particular security-related operations are carried out significantly enhances counterterrorism and major incident response capabilities and saves lives.”
