Technologies for the Implementation of a Security System on Rail Transportation Infrastructures

Abstract

Rail-based transportation systems nowadays constitute highly attractive targets for terrorist organizations as evidenced by repeated attacks in recent years. This is due to the fact that rail-based transportation systems are open systems that move high volumes of passengers daily, this two aspects make the system very vulnerable and extremely difficult to protect. It is well known that transportation is the backbone of the economy. The network of railways, keeps people and goods moving across the country and around the world and the urban metros today are the most efficient solution for the town mobility in the environmental respect. Therefore an attack to a metro or to a railway is an act of great relevance for media and for people and can cause big damages to the community. Railway transportation has some characteristics that make it vulnerable to an attack: trains make scheduled stops along fixed routes; their operations depend on people having quick and easy access to stations and trains and this results in large numbers of access points. In this context it becomes necessary to define the concept of “Security” in railway and metro transportation systems in order to enhance their level of security, while keeping their attributes of openness, extensiveness, accessibility, and affordability. The main challenges of a railway security system are:

• Ensure the security of passengers at stations and on board trains;

• Ensure the security of personnel;

• Protect critical assets;

• Protect the signalling and traffic control systems (IT and Telecoms);

All these targets must be accomplished while safeguarding the continuous operability of the rail-based transportation system. In addition, a reliable and efficient security system has a very effective preventive and reassuring function, because an asset (e.g. a station) will become less attractive for a possible attack.