Homeland security invades union station

[bluelineshawn]

This sounds interesting. I wonder if they'll let me take pictures?


Rail Service Alerts
Metro Red Line
Metro Rail Alerts
Delays at Union Station Saturday, April 28
On Saturday morning, April 28, rail and bus passengers traveling to and from Union Station between 6am and noon may experience delays of 15 minutes or longer due to a scheduled joint security training exercise.

Metro Rail, Metrolink and Amtrak trains will be affected and buses that normally serve Patsaouras Transit Plaza will be rerouted to Cesar Chavez Avenue and Vignes Street. Metro lines impacted will be 33, 40, 42, 439, 442, 444, 445, 446 (Rte 447) and 745, along with Santa Monica Big Blue Bus Line 10.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles Police Department, Metro Security, Amtrak Police and the U.S. Department of Transportation will be involved in the Homeland Security exercise.

As part of the exercise, security checkpoints will be set up around Union Station and inbound passenger trains and buses will be inspected. Public participation at the checkpoints is voluntary.

[bluelineshawn]

There will be another drill this Thursday (6/28/07). The red line will not run to union station from 9-11pm. It will terminate at Civic Center. The purple line will not run past wilshire/vermont during this period and pax will have to transfer to the red line to continue east. The gold line, amtrak, and the bus lines will not be affected. Signs are in the station, but nothing on the metro website yet.

[dasubergeek]

Anybody else notice the dramatically increased police presence at Union Station in the wake of the attacks in the UK? A few officers per platform and a bunch with dogs actually in the station itself -- much more than the usual LASO dog-training exercises.

[nickv]

I was at Union Station not too long ago waiting for the 11:30 p.m. San Bernardino Line train on a Saturday night. I was asked by officers to show my ticket twice while waiting in the station. I don't mind the increased security at all. Police checkpoints at Metro Rail and Metrolink stations are a good thing. Just like DUI checkpoints, they help keep the troublemakers out.

[kenalpern]

Whether it's because of a terrorism scare, ensuring that people pay their fares, or just keep the creeps out, more police can only be a good thing.