Metro-North president Peter Cannito holds court at MTA Headquarters on 44th and Madison tonight. He reportedly will outline a new security plan for the railroad, which may or may not include German Shepherds sniffing for Al Qaeda and air marshals dressed as regular commuters.

The forum is open to the public, and the public–you!–will be permitted to “ask questions, raise issues and bring your comments and suggestions.” It’s from 5 to 7 pm.

If you’re attending, let us know: trainjotting@gmail.com.

Your guest editor is of a geekier bent than your regular virtual conductor, so here’s my favorite train-related tech tip. Did you know that the MTA’s Web site contains its own version of the Big Board — the Grand Central Terminal departure info displayed on monitors around the station?

Of course you didn’t. That’s because the MTA’s Web site is designed as if its main aim is to hide information about the workings of our transit system from from al Qaeda.

It’s there though. Even better, it updates on its own in real time! Here’s the link:

http://as0.mta.info/mnr/html/bigboard.cfm

OK so that’s all well and good - but here’s the real tip. Take this post and email it to your favorite mobile device. Then click on the link above. If your handheld is cool enough (I know this works on a Treo at least, I don’t see why it shouldn’t work on a Blackberry as well) you’ll have your own personal Big Board that you can consult for track info as you approach the station. (Be sure to bookmark it for future reference.)

With this weapon in your commuting arsenal you’ll no longer need to weave through the the clot of amateurs staring blankly at the monitors as you bust through the terminal doors at 6:17:3o trying to make the 6:18. Instead you can run straight to the beer guy and hope there isn’t a line.

Fox had a pretty soft report on its 10 p.m. news about the vulnerability of commuter trains to terrorism. If Fox reporters could stow suitcases in the overhead racks and then depart the train, the reasoning went, why couldn’t Al Qaeda?

Fox tried this experiment in Stamford, then went to an Everyman Commuter–”Tom,” 40, hair parted to the side, middle manager somewhere–for a comment. His mastery of the English language made commuters everywhere proud:

“While I don’t feel totally unsecure, there is always that naggling doubt in my mind.”