RAILROADS STEPPED UP SECURITY BEFORE SABOTAGE

Burlington Northern Railroad and other railroads had been on heightened security even before the sabotage of an Amtrak train this week, a Burlington Northern spokesman said.

An Amtrak passenger train, the Sunset Limited, toppled from a trestle early Monday about 55 miles southeast of Phoenix, Ariz., killing a crewman and injuring at least 78 people.

The Burlington spokesman, Jim Sabourin, said his company and other railroads increased security weeks ago. When airports started scrutinizing more luggage, equipment and passengers at that time, railroads did the same, he said.

Because of the trial of the World Trade Center bombers, the pope's U.S. visit and other factors, federal officials were not only concerned about airport security, but railway security as well.

"I can't say that we've done anything more as a result of Amtrak," Sabourin said, "because we were already in that increased state of security."

He said the Amtrak derailment emphasized the need for increased security although railroad officials believe that incident to be isolated.

Burlington, which has merged with Santa Fe Railroad, has about 31,000 miles of track in 27 states. Burlington uses about 1,800 miles of track in Missouri and 1,383 miles in Illinois. Sabourin said Amtrak uses Burlington's track in the region.

Southern Pacific owned the line in Arizona that was sabotaged, he said.

"We should inspect the track at least twice a week according to the regulations," he said. "Right now most of the track gets looked at every day."

Sabourin said in addition to inspectors examining rail lines, the 340 members of Burlington's police force have been working with other employees on security.

"Anyone exposed to track should take a look at it and make sure everything is all right," he said. "The police department is on the lookout for any potential situations. They also have been talking to the engineers and conductors, making sure that they also are looking out for potential situations."

Sabourin said inspectors in Cape Girardeau and other depots monitor rail-flaw detector equipment and other systems that might indicate problems with rail lines.

"We're monitoring main-line switches and the track and being that much more careful," he said.