Passenger security to be stepped up on commuter trains

One in three has experienced some form of harassment

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Finnish Railways (VR) and the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council (YTV) have decided to step up the security of passengers and ticket-collectors on the commuter trains in the Greater Helsinki area.
     
While the guarding of the trains and stations will be intensified, even police officers are to begin to appear on trains more often.
      The monitoring of security at Helsinki's central railway station will also be improved, while two HELP button posts are to be placed in the building. The conductors on trains are to get their own emergency buttons as well.
      With such HELP buttons it is possible to get access to the emergency centre faster than with a phone.
     
The aim of the intensified security measures is to intervene over troublemaking, drinking, and travelling without a valid ticket. YTV will provide the trains with more ticket inspectors.
      VR has also introduced recorded announcements informing commuters that the consumption of alcohol is prohibited on the trains.
      The stepped-up measures are to be taken, even though recent surveys indicate that the security of travellers has improved somewhat.
     
According to a recent study, 32 per cent of the respondents said they had been harassed on commuter trains. In a similar poll four years ago the corresponding figure was 39 per cent.
      The recent survey shows further that 22 per cent of the respondents had encountered harassment at railway stations, while in 2005 the figure was 27 per cent.
      In total, some 38 per cent of the respondents regarded security as a problem. The survey was conducted on commuter trains in February-March, and the number of interviewees was nearly 1,000.
      ”Something has to be done about these problems, even though the situation has slightly improved”, said Regional Director Kari Pekka Rosenholm from VR.
      Hundreds of thousands of euros are now to be invested in the planned intensified security measures.
      According to Rosenholm, the security of train conductors has not necessarily improved at all. ”In 2008, some 40 per cent of train personnel had met with violence”, Rosenholm reported.
     
The VR security centre inside the Helsinki central railway station can provide help for passengers and personnel in cases of emergency.
      The emergency centre is on duty 24 hours per day on number 0800 132323.
      The centre has a comprehensive camera surveillance system, while a total of 70 cameras were installed for example at the Helsinki central railway station alone last autumn.
     
The survey also indicated that the distinct majority of passengers want to have more camera surveillance on commuter trains as well.
      Even though the VR security centre is rather unknown to the general public, it recorded nearly 3,000 phone calls last year.
      The VR security centre handles all exceptional circumstances in cooperation with train personnel, police, and the Emergency Response Centre.
      In special cases the police can deploy the premises of the security centre.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Rail operator VR intensifies security watch on capital area stations and local trains (3.1.2008)
  Nearly half of Helsinki Metro passengers have safety worries (14.8.2006)

Links:
  VR website - commuter traffic
  Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council (YTV)

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