UITP highlights lessons to be learnt

London played host to a major conference organised by the UITP in November, discussing the terrorist threat facing public transport systems. James Abbott reports.

Suicide bomb attacks on the London Underground system in July 2005 underlined once again that public transport systems are a target for terrorists the world over – a point already made with such deadly effect in Tokyo, Moscow and Madrid.

The search to find effective methods of countering terrorists is being pursued with renewed vigour. With the events of July fresh in everyone’s mind, the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) joined forces with Transport for London (TfL) to organise a conference on the subject in November. Security experts from many major public transport companies met in London for the first international conference on anti-terrorism security in metros, buses and trams. During the course of two days, security directors and experts from 23 countries exchanged information on new technologies, resilience programmes and lessons learned from recent incidents. Hans Rat, UITP Secretary General, said: ‘We have to accept that public transport represents a potential target for acts of terrorism. Even if the threat cannot be completely stamped out, UITP believes in potential significant progress by effectively coordinating strategies to improve incident prevention and response’.

7 July

The conference considered recent incidents in London and how the various parties managed the rescue operation after the attacks of 7 July. Useful facts include the following:

• 500 trains and 200,000 people were evacuated right after the explosions;
• TfL staff were well trained and prepared. Tim O’Toole, London Underground Managing Director, expressed his satisfaction: ‘Our staff did a marvellous job. Our people on site made the difference’;
• TfL staff were assisted by 6,000 CCTV cameras (the operator will double this number in the next five years);
• resilience plans prepared since 9/11 were used;
• rescue operation was very fast thanks to detailed procedures (strategic, technical and operational). On 8 July, 85 per cent of the system was running;
• since 7 July, TfL has improved its emergency equipment and has added police on platforms and in stations (200 more police have been hired during the last two years and 100 more will be hired in 2006).

The main conclusion of the review of the events of 7 July was that good preparation and trained staff are key in the field of anti-terrorism security. Ever since the 9/11 attacks on New York in 2001, the British government had been purchasing new equipment for the emergency services to counter the terrorist threat, and undertaking training exercises, including a major simulated incident at a London Underground station in a weekend in 2003. These measures proved their worth in July 2005.

Mike Brown, London Underground Chief Operating Officer said: ‘The response of all transport and emergency service staff in London on July 7 was magnificent. The training, planning and professionalism of all those involved was clearly evident.’

Lessons from Madrid

The same point about training was stressed by Guido del Mese, Chairperson of UITP’s EU Committee, who underlined the importance of having regular training sessions with all personnel. Since the Madrid bombings in 2004 many public transport operators have taken preventive measures such as:

• staff training;
• public awareness campaigns and passenger information;
• increased use of CCTV cameras – and tests of intelligent cameras;
• use of sniffer dogs;
• more patrols on platforms;
• reviewing design in stations and vehicles.

Paddington initiative

In the wake of the July 7 attacks, the British government is looking at what lessons can be learned from the air industry, where security screening is now the norm and the ‘airside’ of airports is ‘closed’ and only accessible to those that have passed through scanners. ‘You cannot have a completely closed system on the Underground or the railways,’Alistair Darling, the UK Secretary of State for Transport, told the UITP London conference. ‘It just wouldn’t work. Our railway system in the UK is made up of 11,000 miles of track, 2,500 stations. One billion passengers a year on the railways.About three million a day on the London Underground.

‘So, if you are operating an open network, like the tube or main line stations, what you are aiming to do is to try to cut down the risks as much as you possibly can, through intelligence, through conventional policing, specialist policing, measures we impose on operators and so on.What you cannot do is seal off the system from attacks completely – short of shutting the system down.’

Mr Darling said that the British government’s aim is to combine front line security measures – such as screening, searching, physical barriers and patrolling – to prevent, deter or detect a terrorist attack, with other measures – background checks, security vetting, training – to focus on the quality and integrity of those who operate the systems.

‘We will test existing and new technologies to see how they might work on the rail and Tube, for example, passenger screening.And participating in work on intelligent vision systems (CCTV – closed circuit television), investigations into behavioural sciences will all play their part.’

The UK government has announced that trials of airportstyle security systems will begin in a number of stations in the British capital next year, with first tests running on the Heathrow Express platforms at Paddington station.Willing passengers will walk through body scanners on platforms so that security staff can check for hidden and suspicious objects. They could also have their bags checked by x-ray machines or searched by sniffer dogs.

A CCTV system designed to spot suspicious behaviour and unattended packages is also to undergo further trials.

Recovery after incidents

The UITP says that while the first emphasis will of course be on preventing terrorist attacks taking place, the second pillar of a security strategy concerns preparedness for and response to any terrorist attacks which may take place. Essential procedures include regular drills and simulation exercises with all first responders (police forces, firemen, metro staff, etc) and tailored security procedures.

Finally, strategies are needed for a fast business recovery. ‘Going back to business as quickly as possible is crucial for operators, and it breaks the paralysis that terrorists are looking for’ says the UITP. Special emphasis was laid on this point in London in July: the London Underground system was largely up and running again as normal on the day after the terrorist attacks on July 7, with the exception of those stretches of line which had been damaged by bombs.

‘Very shortly after the attacks on 7 July, we were planning for the recovery’ said Mr Darling. ‘And that is important.Yes, they can attack us. But we were ready to deal with that immediately. There is a determination to recover and defeat these people – and we will.’

International cooperation

Mr Darling stressed the crucial role that coordination plays in the field of anti-terrorism security and called for closer intergovernmental contacts. ‘International experience needs to be shared’ he said. ‘For example, G8 information exchange with Spain, Russia and Japan, who have all had experience of terrorist attacks.’

While public transport operators will do all they can to prevent attacks, much of the onus is on governments. ‘I would like to stress that the assessment and monitoring of terrorist threats are the primary responsibility of national authorities, who should keep operators informed as rapidly as possible in order to allow them to set up the necessary measures for prevention’ said the UITP’s Hans Rat.