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Metro Vehicle Blast Testing: Mitigating the effects of Terrorist Attacks on Metro Vehicles

Lookup NU author(s): Conor O'Neill, Professor Mark RobinsonORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).


Abstract

Over recent years the mechanics by which terrorist attacks are carried out have changed leading to an increased threat of un-forewarned attacks on transport systems. One of the counter-measures which can be implemented to reduce the risk of such attacks is by making transport systems a less attractive target for terrorists. This can be achieved by mitigating the effect such attacks have on passengers, staff and metro infrastructure. The aim of the European Framework 7 project “SecureMetro” is to increase the safety and security of metro vehicles from terrorist attack by explosives through material choice and vehicle design, thereby increasing resilience and reducing the impact of attacks on passengers, staff, infrastructure and property. This paper provides a review of the impact of past terrorist attacks on metro vehicles and systems over the past 50 years (1960-2010), describing the attack methodology and the immediate and subsequent effects on the passengers, staff and infrastructure. It describes the set-up and execution of an explosives test on a decommissioned Metro de Madrid vehicle and discusses the response of the vehicle structure to the blast. It makes design recommendations to achieve more inherently secure vehicles and proposes key areas where the choice of materials and design can mitigate the effects of blast attacks. Normal 0 false false false EN-GB ZH-TW X-NONE


Publication metadata

Author(s): O'Neill C, Robinson AM, Santiago A

Publication type: Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)

Publication status: Published

Conference Name: 10th World Congress on Railway Research

Year of Conference: 2013

Date deposited: 30/03/2015

URL: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/newrail/assets/docs/ConorONeill-MetroVehicleBlastTesting....pdf

Notes: WINNER: Best Paper in Safety category.


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