Members of the Amtrak Police Department (APD), Amtrak Office of Security Strategy and Special Operations (OSSSO) and British Transport Police (BTP) this week will jointly patrol several train stations along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor as part of the first major U.S. & U.K. exchange of railroad security and counterterrorism practices.
NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness Director Richard L. Cañas joined N.J. Transit Police officials and representatives from Newark-area emergency response agencies to announce the completion of a communication system upgrade recently installed on Newark Light Rail that enables dozens of responding agencies to communicate via a common radio channel. “Enhancing interoperable communications among and between first responders in this part of New Jersey because of its heavy reliance on the mass transportation network, like the Newark Light Rail, is a key component of our state’s homeland security strategy,” said Cañas. “We will continue to
WASHINGTON – Amtrak has expanded capacity by adding trains and cars to maximize available space for service to and from Washington, D.C., during the inauguration of the nation’s 44th president on Jan. 20. The extra trains and cars will be added to Northeast Corridor Amtrak trains on January 20, with a majority of the extra capacity available southbound toward Washington in the morning and northbound from Washington in the afternoon and evening. All Amtrak trains in the Northeast require reservations and ticket purchases prior to boarding. Supplementing Amtrak service in the Washington, D.C. area will be commuter rail service in Maryland
NEW YORK — Federal officials are warning of a possible al-Qaida terror plot against New York City’s transit system. The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation said officials have received a “plausible but unsubstantiated” report indicating a threat during the upcoming holiday season. According to investigators, al-Qaida members may have discussed targeting New York and any such plot could include using suicide bombers or explosives placed on subway and passenger rail systems.. The conversations took place in late September. Despite the warning, officials said they have no specific details to confirm the plot has developed beyond
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has awarded $380.1 million for transit security as part of its Infrastructure Protection Activities (IPA) grant program. The grants will be used to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies. “With this year’s funding, the department will have provided roughly $3 billion in grants for securing the nation’s critical infrastructure and transportation systems,” Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said. “As capabilities mature, we’re encouraging state and local governments and the private sector to prioritize IED prevention and protection, communications capabilities, information sharing, and regionally
WASHINGTON — Amtrak today announced the deployment of its new specialized Amtrak Mobile Security Team to patrol stations and trains and randomly inspect passenger baggage. The Mobile Security Team supplements ongoing patrols already in place by Amtrak to enhance the safety and security of passenger rail travel. The deployment of the Mobile Security Team and the launch of random baggage inspection are further steps in Amtrak’s ongoing efforts to strengthen rail security as a means to minimize the risk of terrorist threats. The Mobile Security Teams will ultimately be deployed nationwide. “Keeping our customers and employees safe remains our priority,”
FORT WORTH, Texas — Railroads transport much of the food, building materials, coal for electricity and consumer products that are utilized each day, and breaches in railroad security can threaten the national, state and local economies. As part of heightened security awareness, Americans are being asked to be the eyes and ears for law enforcement officers. To help improve security, BNSF Railway Company has expanded its Citizens for Rail Security program by launching two videos aimed at community groups and law enforcement agencies. The videos illustrate how effective these groups can be in the fight against terrorism and vandalism to
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation has entered into a rail security partnership with the states of New York and New Jersey. The agreement represents a model CSXT hopes to use with other states on its system, officials say. The agreement was ratified on July 17. The partnership, unique in the rail industry, formalizes and enhances CSXT’s ongoing commitment to both states to share information, resources, and strategies in order to better protect the communities in which CSXT operates. “We’re pleased to be the first railroad and among the first private industries to formalize security partnerships with the states in order
WASHINGTON — Additional security grant funds for transit systems are likely as a result in increases in FY08 Department of Homeland Security appropriation bills that are pending in Congress. The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee voted June 14 to approve the FY08 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill, which includes $400 million for rail/transit security grants — more than the double the amount contained in last year’s bill. Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee approved its version of the bill, which also contained $400 million for its rail/transit security grant program. “The availability of additional funds will
GREENWICH, Conn. — Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) announced today that its St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad (SLR) and its Canadian sister Chemin de fer St. Laurent & Atlantique (SLQ) have been certified by U.S. Customs and Border Protection as partners in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program. The role of a C-TPAT partner is to continue to ensure that appropriate security measures, based upon risk analysis and consistent with C-TPAT security criteria, are maintained in a documented and verifiable format throughout international supply chains. “We see certification as a necessity in being a cross-border carrier, and the C-TPAT
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