OREANDA-NEWS. December 04, 2009. "The company always prioritizes safety issues. This applies to track maintenance, engineering structures, and rolling stock. However, the protection of railway transport from illegal interference is the work of the security services", RZD President Vladimir Yakunin told journalists, reported the press-centre of RZD.

The president of RZD said the company will conduct an audit of security equipment and issue additional instructions to train and locomotive staff.

Vladimir Yakunin said the explosion on Nevsky Express passenger train No. 166 must serve as a reminder to society, the government, and law enforcement that the task of providing security on trains should be considered in all its aspects, not focusing exclusively on the terrorist threat.

"The company has stressed many times that the laws currently in force are not adequate to overcome the threats that Russian Railways encounters in its everyday work. Therefore, it is very important to consider a draft law on harsher punishment for interference in the activities of railway transport," Yakunin said.
 
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Since RZD was founded, a vital aspect of the company’s work has been ensuring the security of freight and passenger transportation.

From 2004 until November 2009, 14 crashes and seven other accidents occurred on the railway, but no passengers died. The number of security violations on the company’s trains has declined on average by 8-12% each year.

RZD has so far invested 28.7 billion rubles in its Program for Improving Train Safety.

By the end of 2008, the level of safety had been raised from the 2003 level by 23%, primarily through reducing the number of rolling stock derailments by 42%, accidental uncouplings of passenger carriages by 44%, and track malfunctions by 82%.