Commons Transport Committee airs concerns over rail staff security training

Date: 22/3/2013

The Commons Transport Committee has raised concerns over the training that rail staff receive in relation to dealing with security incidents, the BBC reports.

According to the group of MPs, railway employees need to be better prepared for dealing with emergency situations, with "an understanding of potential threats, risks, preventative measures and incident management" essential to improving safety.

The Committee also considered the potential for the EU to play a greater role in enhancing security for road and rail travel in the UK, but concluded that there was a "lack of enthusiasm" for such an involvement on behalf of both Government and industry.

Committee Chair Louise Ellman said: "[It is] essential that we constantly review the most effective means of keeping people safe and combating crime.

"It is important for the government to push for greater action at a national level to address problem areas including the co-ordination of security measures at EU borders."

But positives did come from the report, with the current approach to land transport security said to be working well.

And the (DfT) Department for Transport responded to the Committee with claims that staff do receive adequate training to carry out their respective roles appropriately in relation to various threats.

"The government sets clear security standards for the rail industry to meet, based on the current threat," a Spokesperson said.

"Staff with a security element in their role are required to undergo sufficient training which includes awareness of threats, recognition of suspicious articles and how to respond to incidents.

"In addition, the National Railways Security Programme recommends that domestic rail operators have contingency plans for responses to security incidents, which must be covered in staff training programmes."

In spite of these comments, the Committee suggested that the Government is concerned over greater EU involvement in land transport security due to a perceived risk that it would lead to a scaling down of existing measures.

Posted by Sarah Bailey

Transport Research News and Vehicle Safety News