Towards safer and more secure European transport

Public transport, especially mass passenger transport, faces a range of security threats in Europe. This includes the threat of international terrorism, which has historically targeted public transport systems, both worldwide and in EU Member States.

To make these spaces less vulnerable, the SECURESTATION (Passenger station and terminal design for safety, security and resilience to terrorist attack) project aimed at advancing the tools necessary for building safer and more secure infrastructure. Developments in this focus area will also thus provide maximum operating resilience.

Project members achieved all set objectives and submitted all corresponding deliverables relevant to the first reporting period. These included the outlining of design strategies, the identification of user requirements and an analysis of existing risk assessment (RA) methodologies.

Progress was made in organising a workshop with end users, and a dissemination and exploitation strategy was established. The SECURESTATION website was used to communicate project activities.

Researchers developed a numerical model for the main critical scenarios identified in earlier project actions. In addition, a methodology was developed for evaluating system vulnerability and equipment availability following a terroristic attack at a station building.

SECURESTATION gathered and analysed information regarding current fire protection systems and the geometrical aspects of different European stations. The purpose of this exercise was to arrive at a common general model for determining a station or terminal's geometry, while making it as adaptable as possible for use in any station in Europe.

With a view to maximising the impact of project results, a foundation was established for assessing the impact of results obtained and recommendations made during the project's lifetime. Data were gathered from prior European projects and studied to analyse the acceptability of security measures on the part of operators and passengers.

The project's two main outputs were the development of an RA methodology (focused specifically on passenger stations/terminals) and a Constructive Design Handbook.

Overall, the project has contributed to safer public transport and the enhanced security and functioning of important infrastructure.