On 13 June 2018 the European Commission presented the EU Action Plan to improve the security of rail passengers and staff. The Commission aims at preventing possible attacks by establishing a new cooperation and coordination framework, making the entire rail sector safer. Currently, measures are introduced unilaterally by Member States and transport operators, creating barriers and causing additional costs.

The Commission’s plan provides for the establishment, by the end of 2018, of an EU Rail Passenger Security Platform. This Platform will collect relevant information on rail security and provide good practice guidance for Member States. The Platform will be composed of experts from Member States and will facilitate information sharing, assess emerging security threats and incidents and propose an appropriate response.By the end of 2018, the Commission will also adopt a common methodology for the assessment of rail security risks at EU level.By the end of 2019, the Commission will adopt technical guidance based on the work of the EU Rail Passenger Security Platform. The Commission’s work will specifically focus on the following areas: (a) information to be provided to passengers in case of a security incident, (b) security technology and design solutions adapted to the specificities of the rail sector, and (c) staff scrutiny procedures and appropriate security training.

The Commission invites Member States to appoint a national contact point on rail security for all companies operating on the respective Member State’s territory by the end of 2018. By the end of the same year, Member States are also invited to implement a mechanism at national level for sharing relevant information on rail security domestically and with other Member States through the EU Rail Passenger Security Platform.

Finally, by the first half of 2019, Member States are invited to adopt a programme for rail security management at national level and, by the end of 2019, Member States are invited to require railway undertakings and infrastructure and station managers to adopt a security management plan at company level.

More information is available at the following LINK.

Davide Scavuzzo