advertisement

---

Yesterday, law enforcement officers from Amtrak, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and more than 100 federal, state, local, railroad and transit police agencies patrolled 150 stations in the Northeast Corridor as part of an expanded counter-terrorism and incident response exercise.

During an Operation ALERTS (Allied Law Enforcement for Rail and Transit Security) event, officers heighten station patrols, increase security presence onboard trains, and perform explosives detection canine sweeps and random passenger bag inspections at unannounced locations. Yesterday’s exercise involved stations in 13 states and Washington, D.C.

"Operation ALERTS will enhance the readiness and communication capabilities of hundreds of police and security officials stationed in some of the heaviest rail passenger areas along the Northeast Corridor,” said Amtrak Police Chief John O'Connor in a prepared statement.

Amtrak and TSA plan to conduct similar ALERTS exercises along the Northeast Corridor and in other parts of the U.S. rail system. The parties will review yesterday’s exercise to help evaluate effective tactics for preventing and responding to threats or incidents within the rail system.