Transit and Rail Inspection Pilot Programs

New Carrollton, MD. - Completed

Union Station, Washington DC. - Completed

The TSA would like to say "Thank You" to all passengers for their cooperation throughout the Transit and Rail Inspection Pilot (TRIP) at the New Carrollton, Maryland Station and the Washington D.C. Union Staion.

Your cooperation allowed us to collect important data, and more importantly provided invaluable insights on how to better protect the nation's passenger rail and mass transit systems.

• New Carrollton Transit and Rail Inspection Pilot Program Description

• Union Station Transit and Rail Inspection Pilot Program Description

New Haven, CT - In Process TRIP III. Flyer (PDF 147KB)

The Transit and Rail Inspection Pilot (TRIP) is a first-time rail security technology study conducted by the Department of Homeland Security in cooperation with Shoreline East and several other entities. TRIP is being conducted in three phases. TRIP Phase I occurred at the New Carrollton, Maryland, rail station and evaluated the use of technologies for screening rail passengers and their baggage prior to boarding a train. TRIP Phase II occurred at Union Station in Washington, D.C., and tested the use of screening equipment for checked baggage and cargo prior to their loading onto an Amtrak passenger train, as well as screening of unclaimed baggage and temporarily stored items inside Union Station.

TRIP Phase III will occur onboard a Shoreline East commuter rail car. The goal of Phase III is to evaluate the use of existing technologies installed on a rail car to screen passengers and their baggage for explosives, while the rail car is in transit.

Screening Hours

Starting in July, screening will occur Monday through Friday and may occur at any time between 5:30 and 11:00 AM and between 4:00 and 9:30 PM throughout the pilot period. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and its partners will strive to minimize the inconvenience to passengers during the study period.

The Screening Process

During these times, TSA will screen you and your bags. You may be asked to do one or all of the following:

• If you have any carry-on items, give them to a TSA screener, who will put them on the conveyor belt for screening. If necessary, the items may undergo additional screening.
• Your ticket will be screened. This will require your ticket to be placed in a machine that will analyze it to determine if there are traces of explosives present.
• You may receive secondary screening, to be performed by a TSA screener, if necessary. A private screening area will be available to you upon request.

Additionally, a law enforcement officer will respond to any instance in which firearms or suspected illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia are found during the screening process.

This pilot program is focused on screening only for explosives, so unlike airport screening, cell phones, keys, change, and other metal objects may remain with you. This will help to speed up the screening, causing less of a delay in your travel times.