Railroad police

Railroad police or railway police are people responsible for protecting railroad (or railway) properties, facilities, revenue, equipment (train cars and locomotives), and personnel, as well as carrying passengers and cargo. Railroad police may also patrol public rail transit systems.

Their exact roles differ from country to country. In some countries, the powers of railroad police are no different from those of any other sworn law enforcement officer, while in others, they are more like security guards. Some are also given extensive additional authority, while those in other jurisdictions are more restricted. In the United States and Canada, railroad police are employed by the major Class I railroads, and some smaller ones. In other countries, this work is typically done by territorial police forces rather than specialized agencies. In the United Kingdom, railways fall under the jurisdiction of the British Transport Police. This national transit police force is responsible for policing all railways and some public transit systems in Britain.