Feature Podcast from Capitol News Connection

Congress looks to protect trains from terrorism

capitolnewsconnection.org — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:56:02 +0000

Since September 11th, great attention and federal funding has been focused on protecting airports and airplanes from terrorist attacks, but lawmakers on a Senate transportation committee say similar protections for trains and buses have been seriously lacking.

That fact, underscored Monday when a Metro train packed with 300 people pulled away from the Rockville station and a woman on the train threatened to blow it up.

Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi.

SENATOR WICKER: “PASSENGERS FLED THE TRAIN, SOME RIDERS EVACUATED ONTO THE TRACK BED. THE ROCKVILLE STATION WAS CLOSED FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS WHILE K-9 UNITS SEARCHED, NO EXPLOSIVES WERE FOUND.”

Just last month when Navy Seals killed Osama bin Laden, they discovered clear evidence of Al Qaeda’s plans to target America’s trains and subways. New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg.

SENATOR LAUTENBERG: “DOCUMENTS RECOVERED FROM BIN LADEN’S COMPOUND SHOW HE WANTED TO MARK THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 BY ATTACKING TRAINS. THIS DISCOVERY SENDS TREMORS DOWN OUR SPINES.”

Amtrack’s Chief of Police appeared before the Senate committee.

CHIEF O’CONNOR: “THE RECENT EVENTS AFTER THE DEATH OF BIN LADEN SERVE AS A STARK REMINDER THAT THESE THREATS CONTINUE TO BE VIABLE AND THAT A NEW TWIST WAS ADDED – THAT TERRORISTS ARE CONSIDERING DERAILING TRAINS.”

Experts say terrorists targeting high-speed trains are likely to devise a derailment, by forcing the train to collide with another train or run off a bridge into a body of water.

If their target is a non-high speed train, experts say terrorists more often try to detonate bombs in passenger compartments.

Securing the country’s massive rail networks is complex and difficult, with the massive volume of people and goods moved on US trains ever day and the many access points to rail lines.

Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger of Baltimore.

RUPPERSBURGER: “RAIL SECURITY IS VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE WANT TO KEEP OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AS OPEN AS WE CAN. THAT’S PART OF THE ISSUE IN THE UNITED STATES, WHY WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A TARGET BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH AN OPEN SOCIETY AND THAT’S WHAT WE WANT.”

He says there is no way to search every passenger or check every bag without bringing the rail system to a grinding halt.

RUPPERSBURGER: “I DON’T THINK THE PEOPLE AT THIS POINT WILL STAND FOR THE LONG LINES WE HAVE AT THE AIRPORTS, THEN THEY’RE GOING TO MISS THEIR TRAINS.”

He and Senator Ben Cardin agree that’s why intelligence is key.

CARDIN: “GOT TO USE THE BEST INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION WE HAVE ABOUT RISK AND THEN USE TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP OUR PASSENGERS SAFE.”

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration is working with railways to develop sensor technology with cameras and new explosive detection devices, but training rail employees to deal with terrorist threats is also critical.

That’s why several senators on the committee railed against TSA’s chief for failing to meet training mandates set back in 2007 by the 9/11 Commission Act.

TSA administrator John Pistole.

PISTOLE: “TRAINING IS A TOP PRIORITY BUT IT JUST WAS NOT DONE AS TIMELY BASIS AS IT SHOULD HAVE.”

Pistole assured the Senate committee his agency is making significant progress and has now developed a plan to address key requirements of the 9/11 Act that remain incomplete.

I’m Mary Kay Mallonee reporting in Washington for Capitol News Connection on 88-1, WYPR.

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