[November 12 update: Updated the article with an image of the security screening at Bedok station]

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will be launching a security screening trial at selected MRT stations from Nov. 12, 2018.

The trial involves getting some commuters to undergo security screening via metal detectors and X-ray scanners before they can enter the fare gates.

The trial runs for six months and only six stations will deploy the security screening equipment at any one time.

According to a press release by LTA, this trial will help to improve security operations on rail services:

"Information obtained through the trial will enable LTA to streamline and optimise its security screening processes, and reduce the future impact on daily rail operations. We will also collect feedback from commuters and public transport operators to improve the effectiveness of future security operations and emergency exercises."

LTA Chief Executive Ngien Hoon Ping also mentioned that public transport operators will be equipped with handheld metal detectors from the end of 2018. These handheld metal detectors will be used at MRT stations and bus interchanges. 

Regular security exercises to test preparedness against threats

Separately, LTA also mentioned that the agency has been conducting regular security exercises with transport operators to "test preparedness against security threats".

Case in point: LTA's "Exercise Station Guard" which is aligned with the "SGSecure national movement to strengthen resilience and security of the public transport network".

It will be conducted for the third time this year on December 5. This upcoming exercise will be conducted with SBS Transit at Hougang station.

During the exercise, SBS Transit will have to set up metal detectors and X-ray scanners to screen commuters before they enter the station at Exit A or Exit B.

According to the agency, exercises like Exercise Station Guard "validates public transport operators’ security measures, contingency plans and operational readiness in the event of security threats at public transport nodes".

You can read LTA's news release here.

Top photo credit: Chiew Teng.