What could trains learn from planes?

By Brian Wheeler
BBC News Online

Everyone is accustomed to tight security when they board aeroplanes, especially since fears of terror attack were heightened. But are there lessons from airport security that the train network could learn from?

For years, police have been planning for the possibility of a terrorist attack on the UK's train and underground network.

Security alerts at the 2,500 mainline railway stations are an almost daily occurrence.

The authorities have so far stopped short of installing airport style screening of bags and passengers. But could last week's atrocity in Madrid force them to think again?

IF YOU SEE AN UNATTENDED BAG 1. Ask other passengers if it belongs to them 2. If not, then immediately alert police or railway staff 3. If necessary dial 999

British Transport Police (BTP) says it has "looked seriously" at introducing routine baggage checks at mainline railway stations on a number of occasions.

BTP spokesman Simon Lubin says security is constantly under review; it wants to produce a "considered response" to the bombings in Madrid.

"We are looking at all the options. You might see changes," he says.

The problem facing the authorities is that railway stations are virtually impossible to make 100% secure.

Stations are large, open plan buildings, with multiple entry points. Everything is designed to speed up the flow of passengers.

There are in theory few obstacles to planting a bomb on a train and then melting away into the crowd, or detonating it while it is strapped to your waist.

Delays

While it might be possible to install airport-style metal detectors and x-ray machines at mainline stations, on a busy rapid transit system like the London Underground, even the most cursory security check would cause instant gridlock.

And then there is the matter of whether Britain's already harassed commuters would be ready for a lengthy airport-style check-in every time they caught a train?

In any case, Network Rail argues that the extra waiting time and cost of the equipment would probably bankrupt the network.

Instead, the authorities are putting their faith in CCTV, police officers and public vigilance.

Miles of open access to train network

British Transport Police this week deployed plain-clothes intelligence-gathering officers "at key locations" on the UK rail and underground network.

The unarmed officers' main job is to "disrupt terrorists' planning operations" and keep an eye out for suspect packages, rather than spot potential suicide bombers.

"It is no use launching undercover officers against suicide bombers. They are not going to be able to stop someone with Semtex strapped to their waist," a BTP source says.

Poster campaign

In the same way that undercover anti-theft officers learn to recognise pickpockets, it is hoped the plain clothes officers will learn to recognise potential terrorists, he adds.

BTP also plans to step up the number of "stop and search" operations it carries out on platforms, and it has launched a poster campaign urging increased vigilance.

We would be fools to assume that we would always be able to stop a terrorist getting through London mayor Ken Livingstone

But there is a question mark over the force's resources.

At a time when the government is trying to increase police numbers, BTP is this year losing 50 officers.

The force has also refused to comment on reports it only had two specialist response vehicles - or "bomb vehicles" - to react to security alerts in London.

It has also said it is against the idea of armed guards on trains, similar to the "sky marshals" now found on some transatlantic flights.

"I think deploying armed guards is a very difficult thing to do. Once you have done it, you are very unlikely to be able to withdraw them," the BTP source says.

The idea would also be fiercely resisted by the rail unions. Shaun Brady, general secretary of train drivers union Aslef calls armed guards a "Hollywood-style reaction to a very real problem".

Do Tube users travel in fear?

In pictures

He says it is up to the government to encourage greater awareness of the threat, so they could be "our secret weapon against terrorism".

Some believe the answer to the terrorist threat lies in the deployment of cutting edge technology.

Reliant on technology

The Metropolitan Police is reportedly using "sniffer" devices to detect potential suicide bombers.

CCTV technology that can recognise and zoom in on individuals behaving unusually is also being developed, along with millimetre-wave x-ray machines, which provide 3-D images of passengers as they walk past.

But some experts warn there is a danger of becoming too reliant on technology, at the expense of greater public vigilance.

"The companies that sell this sort of kit are very good at talking it up. They are not living in the real world," says Jane's Aviation Security editor Chris Yates.

Much hope has been invested in facial recognition technology but trials have proved disappointing, he argues.

"The trials that have been carried since 11 September in the US with that kit at various airports have failed miserably to live up to their promise."

Skilled staff

Briefcase-sized vapour particle detectors could be used to improve security at railway stations, but they are only as effective as the staff trained to use them.

A more simple and effective measure, argues Chris Yates, is to bring back manned ticket barriers.

"We have lost that checkpoint just before you get down to the platform. Train stations have become more open plan.

"Anybody can walk in and walk on to the platform and get on the trains," he adds.

He believes we have become "too complacent" about the terror threat in the UK, perhaps believing that past experience of the IRA has made us better able to prevent an attack.

Everyone will be hoping that it will not take an attack on mainland Britain to bring home the true scale of the threat.

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Your comments so far:

No, I am not used to the harrassment at the airport. I hate it and avoid flying wherever possible. Frankly, it was a breath of fresh air to hear the London police chief say that a terrorist attack was inevitable - so much better than "if you give up this many of your civil liberties, we will keep you safe". This is the situation, deal with it. Leave me my freedom and I'll take my chances thanks.
Mike, C.O.W. (ex-UK)

I travelled on Sunday evening from Liverpool to London. I got out of a car at Lime Street Station with a full rucksack, I got on the train and put the rucksack in the luggage rack in the middle of the train and got off at Euston. But, I could've got off at any stop down the line without anyone knowing that I hadn't taken my rucksack with me. No security in sight. That train was a sitting duck as far as I'm concerned and I didn't feel very safe.
Joseph, UK

The problem is that if we do put in all that effort to tighten up the railways, the terrorists will simply turn their attention to another option - the road network, maybe. We can put everything into preventing one kind of attack, only to find they then go for something different.
SimonC, UK

I can't believe that station security is being taken seriously - not while I see cars and vans parked inside the station at Newcastle Central - alongside the main concourse and just a few feet away from the platforms.
Neil Clowes, UK

Every effort should be made to ensure the safety of passengers on the UK¿s transport network. Cost should be no issue, only people who have a ticket should be allowed onto the platform and airport style security should be introduced at every railway station to check all bags. If this results in increased waiting times to board trains or delays people will understand.
Blake Francis, UK

I thought that in the past dogs were used on planes to detect drugs and bombs. Could we not use dogs in the Tube for the same thing? I would imagine that this would be better than dubious technology and probably slightly cheaper?
Yvonne Moorhouse, UK

Having marshals on trains would be something I'd like to see at rush hour. Jammed in a train or tube carriage, unable to move more than a few inches and probably likely to have their guns lifted by pickpockets. You want marshalls patrolling trains? You make the damn things bigger and run more frequently!
Faisal Khan, United Kingdom

The real answer to terrorism is to prevent the breeding of the terrorists in the first place. It would be so much cheaper for the world if we spent our resources on eliminating poverty and disease, providing eduction for all and righting injustices such as Palestine and Chechnya that give motives and excuses for people. If we put more effort into these issues, we wouldn't need to spend so much money on guns and bombs.
Adam Edwards, UK

What annoys me most about the terrorists is that Joe Public have to fit the bill to try to stop them, in the long term everyone will be worse off, higher transport costs, higher insurance premiums and higher taxes to cover the cost of security. I think that we should completely ignore any terrorist act, give no news coverage to it, no internet coverage etc that way their message won't be heard and they will give up.
Suzy, UK

I do feel anything to prevent a tragedy similar to Madrid's is worth considering. I travelled to North of Spain last month via Otocha station (the scene of the bomb attacks) in Madrid where the inner-city trains are all subject to laser screening of luggage and metal detectors of passengers. I realise it did not prevent what happened on the urban commuter train last Thursday.
Cheikh Zekraoui, England

I work for a government department, and the security that has been afforded to our staff and our building is slack to say the least. I can't believe much else is being done to protect other members of the public.
Jon, UK

If you are going to set off a bomb, I'm sure you can afford a ticket. What good will ticket barriers do except slow people down and catch the odd fare dodger? Even if mainline stations were secure what about small branch line stations?
Paul Weaver, UK

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