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To boost rail cargo security, the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority (ACTA) recently has been testing electronic container seals with supplier TransCore Inc., and Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific Railroad.


The seals would enable ACTA and the railroads to track shipments along the 20-mile corridor to help ensure terrorists aren't tampering with containers to carry weapons or dangerous chemicals.


ACTA already uses electronic scanners and tags to trace rail cars in order to collect user fees from railroads.


The parties are trying to obtain a $1.2 million federal grant from U.S. Department of Transportation to conduct field operation tests.


The grant would enable ACTA and TransCore to modify the scanners, and develop software and hardware to read tags already on cars as well as the electronic container seals.


TransCore is testing a similar tracking system designed for containers moving on trucks at the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, Wash.