IMProving Railway sEcurity through awareneSS and training
About
Aim of the project
IMPRESS aims at improving the protection of stations and trains by developing security training and awareness programmes for all stakeholders in rail stations and on trains.
The scope of the training includes security culture in general, with a wide range of significant threats for several European rail operators, and CBRNe (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and explosive) threats specifically, which represent a more challenging scenario.
The IMPRESS project will focus on the ‘immediate responders’ from the railway environment, or those who are most likely to be the first to prevent or react to a security incident when it occurs on railway premises. This target group of end-users includes rail staff at stations and onboard trains, security staff, staff from station shops, cleaning staff as well as other service providers.
Main objectives
Improving the protection of trains and stations against terrorist-related threats.
Enhancing public-private cooperation and good practices in trains and stations.
Raising security awareness of the stakeholders working in stations and trains.
Developing awareness and guidance materials for CBRNe threat.
Facts & Figures
Call ID and Topic: ISF-2022-TF1-AG-PROTECT
Grant Agreement No: 101100521
EU Contribution: € 952 546.63
Starting date: 1 June 2023
Duration: 24 months
Coordinator: UIC Security Division
IMPRESS projet – Flyer
oRGANISATION OF THE WORK
The core work will be divided in three work phases represented by three technical work packages.
First an assessment of training needs to ensure security in the rail environment will be performed through a review of past project results. We will also develop and implement a questionnaire to identify the relevant target groups and their specific training and security awareness needs. Through UIC and its partners with an international outreach, the project will collect the training needs in Europe and beyond.
Based on these specifications, different awareness and training modules will be designed.
Two workshops will be organised with the end-users to define and validate the design of these modules, which will then be developed by experts in both training and security.
Once produced, the modules will be tested and evaluated by the rail companies in the consortium. This will provide feedback from the end-users that will be taken into account to adapt and improve the training modules.
IMPRESS Project results will be disseminated through the UIC Rail Security Hub, an online platform where users will be able to easily retrieve information on security solutions, provide inputs and share comments and operational experiences.
IMPRESS project – Work packages organisation
Consortium
Coordinated by the UIC Security Division, the project will be implemented in partnership with the security services of several major European railway companies and one police university.
Advisory Board
An Advisory Board, composed of key stakeholders with relevant expertise and knowledge about the project topics and activities, supports the consortium throughout the project from a strategic point of view, providing inputs and feedback on project outcomes.
The current advisory board members are as follows:
Rail companies
- DB (Germany)
- EUSKOTREN (Spain)
- EVR – EESTI RAUDTEE (Estonia)
- INFRABEL (Belgium)
- RPF of Indian Railways (India)
- SNCF (France)
Authorities
- German Federal Police
- French first responders
- Polizei Münster
- Public Transport Administration Region Stockholm
News & Events
- The EU IMPRESS Project reaches out to key stakeholderson 5 December 2023 at 10:45
- The EU IMPRESS Project holds its first consortium meeting and first workshop in Utrechton 3 October 2023 at 10:14
- 2023 Security Division Activity Highlights: A 6-month reviewon 21 July 2023 at 09:27
- Official launch of the European Research Project IMPRESS (IMProving Railway sEcurity through awareneSS and training), 20-21 June 2023, Paris, UIC HQon 28 June 2023 at 15:38
Deliverables & Publications
| WP or Deliverable Number | WP or Deliverable Name | Lead participant | Dissemination Level | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WP1 | Project management and coordination | UIC | ||
| D1.1 | Quality assurance plan | UIC | SEN | July 2023 |
| D1.2 | Mid-term report progress | UIC | SEN | July 2024 |
| D1.3 | Output and results indicators | UIC | SEN | May 2025 |
| WP2 | Training needs assessment | UIC | ||
| D2.1 | Security training needs in rail environment | UIC | SEN | November 2023 |
| WP3 | Training programme / curriculum development | DHPOL | ||
| D3.1 | Report on the design of the global training programme/curriculum | DHPol | SEN | March 2024 |
| D3.2 | Training modules – First version | DHPol | SEN | September 2024 |
| D3.3 | Training modules – Revised version | DHPol | SEN | May 2025 |
| WP4 | WP4 Curriculum implementation, testing, validation | SNCB | ||
| D4.1 | Report on the training sessions | UIC | SEN | October 2024 |
| D4.2 | Report on the evaluation | DHPol | SEN | March 2025 |
| WP5 | Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation | UIC | ||
| D5.1 | IMPRESS public website with a restricted area | UIC | PU | July 2023 |
| D5.2 | Project brochure | UIC | PU | July 2023 |
| D5.3 | Dissemination and exploitation plan – First version | UIC | PU | November 2023 |
| D5.4 | Dissemination and exploitation plan – Final version | UIC | PU | May 2025 |
