Railroad Security

• The BLET strongly supports a “rulemaking” for remote control security which would enhance the safety and security of remote control operations.

-- should include provisions which were contained in the bill introduced by Rep. Gene Green in the 108^th Congress, which would prohibit the use of remote control locomotives to carry hazardous materials.

-- hazmat transport require security and unmanned locomotives eliminate the last line of defense.

-- such a rulemaking would prohibit remote control locomotives from carrying hazardous materials, and would also require carriers to keep the remote equipment inventoried and safe from theft.

• Rules covering open switches on non-signaled track.

-- The BLET has petitioned the FRA for regulations, including specific rules regarding the use and alignment of switches, in areas not protected by a signal system.

-- The proposal:

1. Create regulations requiring a switch target standard in non-signaled territory. Such regulation must require reflectorized red and green targets of the same size on all switches connected to the main track.

2. Create an accountable instruction method on the standard form authorizing occupancy for a block or segment of track that includes the following: “Restore the following switches to the normal position (national standard term in the railroad industry to mean lined for the main track traffic.”

3. Change the software logic associated with computer aided dispatching to view ALL switches used by a train to enter or leave the main track as being in the reverse position. The switch should be viewed as such, regardless of instructions or requirements to restore the switch, until verbally restored to the dispatcher by the crew authorized.

4. Create regulations that all trains must inform the dispatcher of any main track switches (other than those listed as the first or last named point for purposes of track authorization) that they used within their current limits. Those switches will be shown as reverse until verbally restored to the dispatcher by the crew authorized.

• Other security needs/issues:

1. Lack of railroad police -- police have historically been the first employees cut in a fiscal crunch.

2. Lack of solicited input from train crews -- train crews are the eyes and ears of the railroad but have been given little information or training on security matters.

3. Access to railroad passenger and freight yards -- reducing access entirely is an impossible task, but increased security and cameras are needed.

4. Nuclear waste shipments -- tank car integrity is important in nuclear shipments

5. Duress code/signal -- there needs to be an uniform signal throughout our nation’s railroad system

6. Public access to safety sensitive railroad equipment (switch keys, locks, etc.)

7. -- needs to be protected

8. Public access to information on train movements -- needs to be protected

9. Rail infrastructure investment -- more employees and resources need to be diverted to the track and signal system

10. Whistle blower protections -- this is an extremely important issue. Employees need to know that they will be protected if they act in the public’s interest and they won’t be fired for speaking up.

11. Train car integrity -- A FRA regulation proposed in November 2004 would increase the crashworthiness of locomotives and external fuel cars. The same needs to be done for all tank cars.

12. Municipalities need to know who to call when an incident involving the railroads occurs.

• The BLET would support the introduction of a bill, such as, H.R. 4896 introduced by Congressman Oberstar last year, that would authorize more than $1 billion in federal funds to boost the security of America’s railroads. The bill was known as the PROTECTS Act (Protecting Railroad Operators, Travelers, Employees, and Communities with Transportation Security Act of 2004).