SŽDC Co-organizes the 15th UIC World Security Congress

On 21 and 22 November, Správa železniční dopravní cesty (SŽDC) organizes together with the International Union of Railways (UIC) the 15th World Security Congress. The theme of this year’s Congress, held for the first time in the Czech Republic, is safety and security at railway stations. The Congress is being held under the auspices of Mr. Vladimír Kremlík, Minister of Transport of the Czech Republic

The importance of this worldwide Congress is obvious especially today when issues of assuring security at railway stations belong to priorities not only for the Police as such but for our organization as well“, said Mr. Jiří Svoboda, Director General of SŽDC and added: ”That is why I am extremely pleased that SŽDC has the honour this year to act as host for participants of this worldwide conference.“

Experts from all over whole world arrive to Prague in order to exchange experience and hear news in the field. This year, the worldwide congress will take up conclusions from the previous one which was held last year in Bled (Slovenia) with a main theme of dealing with crisis situations on the railway. The main topic chosen for the Congress in Prague is Security and Safety of Stations with four main themes:

  • Integrated protection: multimodality and public spaces
  • Different models of security organization in stations
  • Design of stations and their arrangement with regard to a “feeling of security”
  • Innovative solutions to enhance safety and security of stations.

In the past months, SŽDC took a substantial change in its approach to security at railway stations. In November, it concluded a four-year agreement on guarding its buildings. Another important factor in assuring security of passengers and employees are technical systems. Together with investments into reconstruction of passenger buildings, SŽDC plans for implementation approximately 80 security projects dealing with a complex safeguarding of building by technical equipment. A unification of safeguarding will result in savings in the field of service and personnel training.

Safety at railway crossings has been an extremely important issue. Based on a successful pilot project, 14 critical level crossings will be equipped with camera systems to monitor passing of vehicles with an option of measuring speed. In the phase to follow, 16 more level crossings will be equipped with a camera system. Total costs will amount approximately to CZK 40 million. An important factor in the field is cooperation with local governments and the Czech Police.

SŽDC operates systems classified as critical information infrastructure components. Their safeguarding is a primordial task for ensuring operation safety. A sum of CZK 300 million is going to be invested into the cyber-security field for a resistance increase.

The International Union of Railways (UIC) was founded in 1922 and one of its five founding members then was the former Czechoslovak Railways. During the Congress, presentations will be held not only by representatives of SŽDC but also by speakers from France, Belgium, Canada, Poland, Austria and the United States.

 

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