Police search Metra Trains

[GTW6401]

January 14, 2009

FROM STNG WIRE REPORTS
A Metra train headed to Chicago from Aurora was stopped in Lisle on Wednesday morning and everyone on board was searched by police after an armed Secret Service agent caused a scare by asking a ticket agent about security on board.

Thousands of commuters were stranded as all other trains on the line were halted. The train was moving again by 9:40 a.m., according to a passenger on board.

"We are certainly sorry for the inconvenience," Metra spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet said. "This impacted thousands of passengers."

Burlington Northern Santa Fe express train No. 1252, which was not scheduled to stop in Lisle, left Aurora at 7:52 a.m. It was stopped at the Lisle station, near Lincoln and Ogden avenues, and police with semi-automatic weapons patrolled the platform as passengers on board were searched. The train was scheduled to arrive at Union Station at 8:34 a.m.

All other inbound and outbound Metra trains were halted on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line between Aurora and Chicago.

Just before 8 a.m., a Secret Service agent asked a ticket agent at the main Naperville station "unusual questions relating to security," Naperville Police Cmdr. Dave Hoffman said. Pardonnet said the man asked about metal detectors on the train and indicated he had a gun. He did not identify himself as a government employee, so the ticket agent called police.

The train left Naperville and was stopped at the Lisle station while police searched all 10 cars.

"I think people were alarmed because when Lisle police came on board, they were armed," Pardonnet said. "It's unfortunate to have to test a response, but it's good to know what that response is. And in this situation, everything turned out safe."

The investigation has been turned over to the FBI, Pardonnet said.

Amy Beert, a Naperville resident who was on the train headed to her downtown job as an actuary, said at 9:45 a.m. that the train was moving again.

Beert said police went car to car searching passengers and bags. The first three cars were evacuated, she said.

Passengers originally heard someone on the train had called 911 after overhearing another passenger talk about having a gun.

Beert said passengers were calm as police searched the cars.

According to the Metra Web site, train No. 1225, scheduled to arrive Aurora at 9:02 a.m., ended at the Downers Grove Main Street station.

Train No. 1260, scheduled to depart Aurora at 8:20 a.m., will not operate today. Trains No. 1225 and 1262 were also delayed.

Metra is running extra trains, starting at Downers Grove, to pick up commuters who were left stranded.

Once the train No. 1252 started moving again, Metra's schedule was expected to return to normal.

[thomas]

you want to see security, wait till obama travels down the northeast corridor, there is going to be secret service hanging from the overhead wires looking for booby traps..

[GreatLakesRailfan]

On the positive side of things...can you imagine the reactions if this had been for real, and not just a secret service agent who was unfamiliar with Metra?