NEW YORK, NY March 22, 2007 —The Federal Transportation Safety Administration has agreed to help the MTA beef up security on its commuter rails. WNYC's Beth Fertig has more.

REPORTER: The new strategy means for the first time, TSA officers and undercover marshals will be riding the trains in the nation's largest commuter rail system. The MTA says it requested the partnership to improve security following the bombings in London, Spain and India. Robert Jamison, the TSA's deputy administrator, says his officers will visit trains at random and may also inspect some bags.

JAMISON: Potentially we could be involved in that, we're going to yield to the MTA and local protocols as they develop what we're going to do.

REPORTER: MTA police will also add 50 teams with bomb sniffing dogs. The agreement covers the Long Island Rail Road, Metro North and the Staten Island Railway. Local police including the NYPD will patrol train stations and parking lots. The MTA won't say how many officers will be involved in the new joint operation, citing security concerns. But it's budgeting $3 to $5 million for overtime. For WNYC, I'm Beth Fertig.