BT Police superintendent Phil Trendall and his team left their local railway beats and went on patrol at Amtrak stations in the United States last month – to help in the fight against terrorism.

Their visit was part of a week-long international ex-change of rail security and counter-terrorism practices.

Superintendent. Trendall and the five other officers are London-based, but part of a national unit which can be deployed throughout the UK on specifically targeted operations.

Joining forces with members of the Amtrak Police Department, Office of Security Strategy and Special Operations, they patrolled several major stations along Amtrak’s Northeast corridor in the first such major US/UK exchange.

BTP’s visit was designed to solidify a security partnership with Amtrak by sharing best policing methods and practices for passenger protection on both sides of the Atlantic.

Beginning at Washington Union station, the officers were able to observe first-hand Amtrak’s on-train and on-station security operations conducted by police and tactical forces, counter surveillance personnel and K-9 detection units.

Later, they moved on to Philadelphia 30th Street, Baltimore Penn and New York Penn stations.

Superintendent Trendall said: “This represented a major opportunity for our two organisations to learn from each other, and we are looking forward to working further together in the future in a strengthened partnership to protect the travelling public from the threat of terrorism.”

Over the past few years, terrorist attacks, attempts and plots around the globe have targeted rail and mass transit, and Amtrak police chief John O’Connor explained the cross-Atlantic exchange was agreed after an international counter-terrorism rail safety conferences last year.

Amtrak chief operating officer William Crosbie said: “By sharing best police practices with our British counterparts and others, we can build a safer and more secure rail environment for riders internationally.”