Keeping the railways as safe as possible depends in part on vigilance by rail staff and the public. During UIC’s Security Week 2018 at its Paris HQ, the morning of presentations on 20 June – Security Awareness Day – highlighted action on the ground to foster this collaborative culture.
In 2015, Infrabel created its Corporate Security Office and drew up a security management strategic plan for 2016-2019.Since then, the Belgian rail infrastructure manager has built up “a strong internal security network including 52 local security offices nationwide, plus a strong external security network, working closely with one of our main clients, rail operator SNCB, as well as Belgian railway police, private security firms, the Interior and Transport Ministries, and intelligence services,” said Carl Lapiere, security management advisor, Infrabel.
What to do in the case of a terrorist attack on rail in the Netherlands? ‘Run – Hide – Tell’ is the response recommended by Dutch Railways (NS), which is taking the risk very seriously. Especially since the biggest threat in the country, according to government, is an attack with guns or other weapons at stations.