TEAMSTERS SAY SECURITY ON RAIL TRACKS SERIOUSLY LAGGING

Dec 1, 2005 12:00 PM

A recent report by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters warns of a “disturbing lack of security” along railroad tracks and in rail yards.

“We are only one catastrophe away from being in a position to say: ‘Oh My God, we should have done something,’” John Murphy, director of the Teamsters Rail Conference, tells the Yuma Sun of Arizona.

The labor union, which represents rail, freight, shipping workers and truckers, has released a report that includes the results of a 2004-2005 survey among Teamsters in 46 states and employed by 34 railroad companies.

Just over half, 54 percent, say they noticed running trains or equipment left unattended; 24 percent say they have seen trespassers in the (rail) yard or along the right of way; and 62 percent say they have not been trained regarding their role in their company's emergency action plans.

Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis disagrees with the Teamsters survey. Davis says security before and after the Sept. 11 attacks along railroads throughout the company's network is adequate and safety practices are a day-to-day priority.

Considered the largest freight railroad in the nation, Union Pacific operates in 23 states and has 32,615 miles of rail nationwide, according to the company's Web site.

Murphy says that a lot of incidents — both safety lapses and security breaches — do not make the news. Murphy points to a recent incident in California where a man was shot by police after hijacking a locomotive with a bow and arrow.

“If someone with a bow and arrow can get on a train, imagine a terrorist with a bomb,” Murphy says.

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