(United Press International distributed the following article on May 1. )
BOSTON, Mass. — The regional rail system in the northeast United States is reportedly highly vulnerable to a terrorist attack and needs to improve security.
A panel of local and state officials met Friday in Boston and called for increased federal funding to expand security, the Boston Globe reported Saturday.
“Five times as many people travel by train than by air, and yet airports have received $11 billion and $35 million has gone to rail,” said U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., who organized the Northeast Rail Security Summit. “It’s going to take an attack … to get these priorities reordered. People have got to wake up.”
Since the March 11 Madrid railway bombings, concern about the vulnerability of U.S. subways, commuter trains, Amtrak, and rail freight has increased sharply.