The U.S. passenger rail system is a vital component of the nation's transportation infrastructure, carrying more than 11 million passengers each weekday. The Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) & the Dept. of Transportation share responsibility for ensuring the safety & security of rail systems. This report addressed: (1) DHS actions to assess the risks to the U.S. passenger rail system in the context of prevailing risk management principles; (2) fed. actions taken to enhance the security of the U.S. passenger rail system; & (3) security practices that domestic & selected foreign passenger rail operators have implemented. Also, test'y. of Cathleen Berrick, Dir. Homeland Sec. & Justice Issues, GAO. Charts & tables.

This book provides an overview and assessment of the security risks, both manmade and natural, facing the railways and rail networks. Railroads face significant threats from disasters, but with situational awareness and coordinated effort these can often be substantially minimized. Transportation assets have always been vulnerable to natural disasters, but in the current environment these assets are also a preferred target of human-caused disruption, especially in the form of terrorism, as the events in many other parts of the world have underscored. Railways are not a homogeneous mode of transportation given their various roles in intercity and commuter passenger movement, as well as being a major portion of the freight ton-miles upon which the U.S. economy is highly dependent. Designed to provide advice for railway owners and first responders, this text discusses how to secure hazardous material transport and how to establish guidelines for rail freight operations and rail passenger operations. The book aims to develop an understanding of the unique operating characteristics of railways, the nature and the range of vulnerabilities, the present means for protecting the infrastructure, and the public policy initiatives that are prerequisite for developing a comprehensive appreciation of the magnitude of this issue. The book utilizes case studies of transport disasters to illustrate lessons learned and to provide critical insight into preventative measures. This book will be of great interest to students and practitioners of transportation, technology and engineering, and security management.

An attack on the U.S. freight rail system could be catastrophic because rail cars carrying highly toxic materials often traverse densely populated urban areas. The Transportation Security Admin. (TSA) is the fed. entity primarily responsible for securing freight rail. This report assesses the status of efforts to secure this system. This report discusses: (1) stakeholder efforts to assess risks to the freight rail system and TSA's dev¿t. of a risk-based security strategy; (2) actions stakeholders have taken to secure the system since 2001, TSA's efforts to monitor and assess their effectiveness, and any challenges to implementing future actions; and (3) the extent to which stakeholders have coordinated efforts. Includes recommendations. Illustrations.