Transportation System by Rail, Essay Example

For the purposes of this paper we will discuss two rail systems, the London Underground and the New York subway system and determine potential vulnerabilities within the system through risk assessment and also determine what type of terrorist organization might attack such a subway/underground system. Lets commence with the London Underground System first. The following stops are considered high target areas for terrorist activity: The House of Parliament, The Big Ben Tour, Theater Visits and Westminster Stops. There should be extra protection and security in these stops at the West and East Gates to the Metropolitan and Waterloo Lines respectively. This is to ensure no one enters the train platform areas with weapons and no suspicious activity is accompanied on the platforms in the highly congested areas near these governmental buildings and high trafficked areas.

Terrorists in the international arena will most likely spawn this area coming from neighboring countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran. This will be especially grotesque well trained suicide bombers wanting to make a statement by sacrificing their own life. They may want to use the train station to carry their weaponry or bombs to blow up cars in streets in nearby areas and use the train to make a fast escape. They will be small missions but will make a large statement with the local BBC news.

The New York Underground Subway Station is one that is traveled by many commuters and tourists from around the world daily. If there was an infiltration of terrorists to the subway it would be by terrorists already lodged in the states from a third world county that wanted to make a very large statement that would attempt to blow up the entire subway or either use the subway to travel to blow up an important building in or near New York. These situations are best detained by putting man hour security cameras and security men around the clock at all entrances and exits that are properly trained to safe guard the public from attack. Metal detectors are usually in force to keep out weapons. Dogs can be put in place to sniff out potential bombs. There is no way to monitor every passing person that is deviant enough to make the super weapon that can pass through security but we can use the latest technology and most manpower to keep the place secure from terrorists. Also there should be a well planned out escape route to ensure the people can evacuate in a timely manner in case there is a breach of security by any manner. There should be a SWAT team on call to aid in the safety of all passengers if an emergency incident were to ever occur. There should be a bomb shelter in place on site if the passengers need to escape to that area in case of a bomb threat on site.

References

A Transportation Research Database Retrieved August 5, 2010 from, http://tris.trb.org/view.aspx?id=839720

Risk Assessment Retrieved August 5, 2010 from, https://lccsecure.lancashire.gov