News Release

Research targets security of nation’s railroads

June 29, 2009

Two Penn State Harrisburg faculty members are embarking on a research study to determine how secure America’s rail transportation network is from terrorist attack.

Supported by a grant from the College’s Research Council, Professor of Public Policy and Administration Jeremy Plant and Professor of Supply Chain Management Richard Young are partnering on the national study designed to classify threats and identify safety gaps which need to be addressed.

Young explains that efforts to secure the nation’s rail system have been undertaken by federal, state, and local agencies and by private rail operators. But, he adds, these activities differ fundamentally between the passenger and freight modes. “Driven by events such as the Madrid and London rail attacks, and by the assumption that since the 9/11 event all passenger modes of travel in the U.S. constitute potential terrorist targets, passenger rail security has been largely entrusted to the public sector, but with fewer resources granted for aviation,” Young points out, “Freight rail security has also been driven by events, but has been guided by the private sector rail industry.”

Plant adds, “The focus of the research is to recognize that rail transportation is a common network shared by freight, intercity passenger, and commuter railroads. The vulnerability of one is therefore the vulnerability of all. “ He states that securing the rail network, specifically its infrastructure, is a matter of serious concern for a wide variety of reasons, including the fact that freight railroads are critical to the nation’s economy, and that passenger operations move millions of riders each year and are essential to the functioning of many of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas.
Young stresses railroads provide the safest logistical means of moving hazardous materials necessary for the economy, but such movements provide prime opportunities for terrorist actions, and the rail network is vast and diverse. And importantly, some of the infrastructure posing the most attractive terrorist targets is in metropolitan areas where lines tend to cluster with freight, intercity passenger, regional commuter, and rapid transit lines in close proximity.

“Our focus will include identifying how rail network security can be enhanced by better collaboration among public law enforcement agencies, railroad police, government intelligence organizations, and the Department of Homeland Security,” Plant adds.

The specific objectives of the rail study will be to: identify gaps in the regulatory theory and practice aspects of protecting rail assets; determine how public policy may be further enhanced to provide for safe passage of customers as well as goods; identify how opportunities may be present for the sharing of intelligence; and resolve those areas where public policy may be at odds with the objectives of the railroad operators.