Explosive detection technology being tested at Canary Wharf

London Underground has started the second stage of a trial of passenger screening with the introduction of equipment capable of detecting traces of explosives at Canary Wharf station.

The Department for Transport (DfT) and Transport for London (TfL) are testing high-speed explosives ticket scanner and an x-ray system from Smiths Detection.

The scanner can detect and identify traces of over 40 different explosive substances in up to eight seconds when a ticket is swiped over a sampling scanner.

The HI-Scan 6046si x-ray system produces detailed x-ray images and can distinguish between organic and non-organic items. A trial of equipment that can detect traces of explosives on clothing will follow at Greenford station.

: ‘Passengers are randomly selected and asked to be scanned, including fingerprint scanning, in a quick process,' a DfT spokesman told Computing.

'Not everyone is tested because it would be impractical given the size and scale of the operation.

‘We are not looking to disrupt journeys, it is just a test to see how capable the equipment is,' he said.

DfT and TfL first trialled passenger scanning at Paddington station earlier this year and a third trial involving sniffer dogs will take place later this year.

Following the trials, which have a budget of half a million pounds, the DfT and TfL will assess the results and examine any issues.

The Secretary of State for Transport Douglas Alexander said: ‘The sole purpose of these trials is to test their application in a genuine rail environment.

‘No single security measure is foolproof, therefore it is important that we not only consider existing and emerging technologies, but that we subject them to vigorous tests in a mix of authentic environments.’