America's Railroads

Home / America's Railroads / Post-9/11 Security

Post-9/11 Security

The industry’s safety rules provide the foundation for security. For instance, employee vigilance is at the heart of operating safety rules—one of the principal operating rules in use on all the railroads states: "employees must immediately notify the proper authority of...danger to railroad property." Thanks to the vigilance and dedication of rail employees, the railroads have increased preparedness significantly since the events of 9/11.

Immediately following the terrorist attacks, the AAR and its members worked with federal security agencies to develop and implement a risk-based security plan for the nation’s rail network. As part of that effort, the AAR’s Railroad Security Task Force maintains a 24/7 operations center to coordinate industry-wide rail freight security. The center is in constant communication with the operations centers of each railroad and the appropriate federal authorities to relay threat information quickly.

Railroads include security training modules in annual operating safety rules courses for all roadway and train and engine service employees. These eight-hour training sessions include training and discussion around such topics as what to do when you see strangers or suspicious activity on rail property, the need to keep information about train movements and cargoes confidential, and to keep rail property secured and locked down.

Employees who are involved in the handling of hazardous materials movements also receive special security training under U.S. Department of Transportation regulations. On a daily basis, operating bulletins contain security tips and reminders and are discussed at safety briefings.

Individual railroads also include training on how to recognize and respond to chemical, biological, radiological or improvised explosive device threats. Such best practices in security training and procedures are shared in biweekly conference calls among the industry’s security professionals. The industry’s training task force is currently working with the National Transit Institute (NTI) at Rutgers University to create an enhanced security awareness training program for freight rail employees. The new program, which is expected to be ready by late 2005, will create a uniform employee training program on security for use throughout the country.