In U.S. rail networks still vulnerable to terror attacks - must read

[Imagevision]

Expense biggest hurdle to preventing London-style attacks

“It’s about as vulnerable as it always has been,” said Juliette Kayyem, a terrorism expert at Harvard University. What has been done, she added, is “pretty piecemeal — not part of any comprehensive effort.”

Homeland security experts say that improving commuter rail security is difficult and EXPENSIVE due to the very nature of the rail systems. And absent any terrorist attack in the United States in over three years, there is little public pressure on Congress to come up with solutions.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7069390 /

So it seems it will take attacks as we've seen in London today before our government makes improvements to the US. rail system - in other words, perhaps 40 or several hundred will have to die before the Bush government decide to improve homeland security!

[ixion]

1. frankly, I feel we need to go the other way with this security business

I really hate flying now because of all the bogus TSA nazi checkpoints. I don't use the train much these days, but I would consider it over the airlines, unless they implement more gestapo BS. :grr:

[Captain Hilts]

6. It's for your protection. (nt)

[ixion]

10. don't do me any favors... I don't like living on my knees

n/t

[Parche]

2. rail

As I was riding in on the "Max" rail to downtown
I saw several police and rail inspectors, more then
normal, and was thinking, if someone really
wanted to get away with something, their presence
is not going to deter them at all.

[Captain Hilts]

5. Pride Runs Deep Parche!

Dad rode Sea Robin, Cutlass Cobbler, Carp and Sea Lion.

Chief of Staff Squadron 10, DIVCOM 122 outta Key West.

What great boats BOTH Parches were!

[Captain Hilts]

3. As Tony Kornheiser said on his radio show this morning...

you could carry a shoulder carried surface to air missile onto AMTRAK. So true.

AMTRAK's security is a laughing stock - and that's not AMTRAK's fault, but the Feds that are starving them. And all the members of congress from the plains states that think the more densely populated East Coast is getting too much money for security.

NYers and DCers get less per capita for security than folks in Wyoming!

I DO know that AMTRAK has taken steps to combat nuclear terrorism. A friend of mine had a personal experience with that in the Northeast Corridor.

[One_Life_To_Give]

4. Make all rail stops like airports?

To keep any bombs from getting onto the trains and buses. We would need to screen every passenger, like we do at airports. Add to that trying to protect the rail infrastructure, like tunnels, requires alot of fencing.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. I'd guess that mass transit (eg the London Underground)

has to get through 40 people per minute, on one platform, at rush hour. Screening them all would cost a huge amount.

[BeHereNow]

7. Halliburton/Military INC. sucks up all the money...

IF tptb actually cared about HS, the money
would stay here in the US and go to fund
security measures designed to protect we, the people.
But NOOOOO, BILLIONS of dollars are simply VANISHING
into the Halliburton coffers.
Of course a regime change here at home
would no doubt lessen the chances of more
attacks too, not to mention stop the incessant
flow of our tax dollars to the billionaires club
instead of our social structure...
BHN

[Patiod]

8. And the system is barely making it, even without add'l security $$

The article pointed out some (costly) steps that can and should be taken which would not disrupt service, such as better security in the trainyards, security cameras, making sure staff people (condutors, guards) have proper ID and good communications tools.

Which is fine, but where is the money going to come from to fund this?

We in the city can barely get funding for the system as it is, nevermind increased secuity, meanwhile, the goddamn hicks out in West Bumfuck - the same ones that always vote down state aid to urban transportation - are happy to spend hundreds of millions to build roads that do NOTHING except get them to Penn State football games a few minutes faster. :grr:

[MetaTrope]

9. Erm, there will never be rail security

Great Britain, November 2004
California, January 2005

How does Homeland Security secure thousands of miles of railroad?