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At a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on rail security yesterday, Association of American Railroads President and Chief Executive Officer Edward Hamberger reviewed freight railroads' security initiatives since Sept. 11, 2001.

The roads created four security alert levels and determined specific actions to be taken at each level. Currently, the freight-rail industry is at Alert Level 2, which includes more than 50 countermeasures and some additional security actions requested by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

"The rail network is vast and open, [and] its protection is dependent on the receipt of timely, actionable threat information," said Hamberger. "It is imperative that sufficient government resources be made available for the gathering, analysis and timely dissemination of intelligence relating to potential threats."

To ensure railroads receive timely intelligence data, AAR developed the Railway Alert Network (RAN) to disseminate terrorism threat information. RAN's hub is located at the association's operations center, which operates at a secret level and is staffed with mobile communications around the clock.

"RAN is linked to the Surface Transportation Information Sharing and Analysis Center, which was created by AAR at the request of DOT to collect, analyze and distribute security information to protect physical assets and information technology systems," said Hamberger.

Freight roads are opposed to legislation that would enable state or local governments to restrict hazardous-materials moves by rail, he said.

"Because rail transportation is interstate in nature, it requires a uniform set of standards that apply nationwide," said Hamberger. "This uniformity would be severely jeopardized if states or localities sought to force rerouting by prohibiting the transportation of hazardous materials within their jurisdictions."

Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge outlined the agency's recent passenger-rail security measures, including Mass Transit K-9 and Transit Inspection Pilot programs, and enhanced education and awareness initiatives.

However, International Brotherhood of Teamsters Rail Conference officials believe AAR's and Homeland Security's measures aren't stringent enough.

"Since 9/11, the Department of Homeland Security has focused on
heightening security measures in the airline industry while entrusting
rail security concerns to railroad companies," said Teamsters President James Hoffa and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen National President Don Hahs in a joint statement. "It is critical for the department to re-evaluate its plan for the security of our railroad system — both freight and passenger."

Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) also was critical of the security plans and urged quick passage of legislation that would increase efforts to protect freight and passenger trains from potential threats.

"We have done little to protect rail from terrorist attacks, creating an Achilles heel in our nation’s efforts to secure our transportation system," he said. "Amtrak, freight railroads, and local transit agencies are doing what they can, but the federal government has not done its fair share."

On March 12, Carper and other senators introduced the Rail Transportation Security Act (S. 2216), which would order Homeland Security to undertake a risk assessment of rail security threats and devise steps railroads can take to protect infrastructure and facilities. The bill would authorize $515 million in fiscal-year 2005 grants to enable passenger and freight roads to implement the department's recommendations.

The bill would also order the department to study the cost and feasibility of screening passengers, baggage, and cargo on all Amtrak trains, as well as conduct a pilot program of random screening of passengers and baggage at five of Amtrak's 10 busiest stations.