BOSTON (AP) – Gov. Mitt Romney cut short a trip to Washington on Thursday, then spent some time squeezing into a downtown subway car to show residents he still has faith in the safety of the public transportation system.

Soon after returning to Massachusetts, Romney headed to the hub of Boston’s transit system, jockeying with commuters for space on the Red Line subway – taking it one block from the Park Street station to Downtown Crossing.

“I’m occasionally asked whether I feel safe on the T.’ The answer is absolutely,” he said before getting on a train.

His abrupt departure to take, for him, an unusual trip on public transit came within hours of another series of explosions in London. The small explosions struck London’s subway and a bus, two weeks after the July 7 bombings that killed 56 people and injured hundreds.

Since those bombings, security for mass transit in several large U.S. cities – including Boston – has been elevated. In Massachusetts, the increased security level to “orange plus” has meant a more visible police presence with beefed up patrols of platforms, trains and stations.

“We have additional personnel at the station, additional personnel making sure that all of our facilities are closed at night and sealed off,” he said. “We’re adding security, we’re adding communications to riders.”

During a news conference aboveground, a huge crowd of onlookers gathered around the governor and his staff, craning their necks in curiosity.

Unlike at least one of his predecessors – former Gov. Mike Dukakis – seeing Romney walking down city streets or in a subway car was a bit of an oddity, drawing a crowd of curious. At one point, a homeless man tried to shout over reporters’ questions, asking, “Are you running for President?” Romney, who’s acknowledged interest in running, ignored the question.

And when a reporter asked how much the fare was, Romney responded “a dollar.” When told it was $1.25, he tossed a quarter to the reporter.

Security was tight for Romney’s own subway ride, with guards – as well as a bevy of television cameras and reporters – escorting him, Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, MBTA General Manager Daniel Grabauskas, Public Safety Secretary Ed Flynn and a variety of government aides. He apologized to commuters for the entourage taking up space on the crowded car.

Riders gaped as the enormous entourage crowded down the stairs, through the turnstiles, and on the Red Line subway platform. Some riders winced and moved away.

On the platform, a woman who had been in the news repeatedly for abusing cats she owned began jostling with “T” police, who forced into the far end of the car, where she yelled “murderer!” and “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!” at Romney. Some riders snickered, and other cheered.