Railroad Systems
Kevin M. Lynch gets it in this WaTimes Op-Ed –
A network of nearly 200,000 miles of railroad stretches across America with thousands upon thousands of switches, turnouts, crossovers, bridges, trestles, tunnels and hundreds of railroad yards and thousands upon thousands of railcars and locomotives.
All are vulnerable to attack and sabotage and given al Qaeda’s penchant for multiple, simultaneous attacks, any such attacks against the freight railroad infrastructure or the targeting of hazardous commodities in transit could spell disastrous consequences for local communities across the nation and could deliver a crippling blow to our economy. In addition, such attacks are easy and cheap to carry out.
His solution is in line with my thinking –
That could be virtually stopped by vastly increasing the number of railroad police officers, making them much more visible and available to prevent trespassing and to protect railroad property. By eliminating casual trespassers, those intent upon doing harm will be stopped.
That is, minus his bit about the fences.
-Shlok
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