IMProving Railway sEcurity through awareneSS and training

Improving railway security through awareness and training

About

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.

Aim of the project

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. The project focuses on the immediate responders from the railway environment — rail staff at stations and onboard trains, security staff, station shops, cleaning staff and other service providers.

Facts & Figures

Project Acronym: IMPRESS
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 Department

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.

Expected results

Assessment of training needs and identification of target groups across Europe.
Awareness and training modules designed with end-users and developed by security and training experts.
Modules tested and evaluated by consortium rail companies, with feedback integrated into final versions.
Results disseminated through the UIC Rail Security Hub.

Organisation of the Work

The core work is divided in three technical work phases represented by three technical work packages.

Assessment of training needs through a review of past project results and a questionnaire to identify target groups and their specific training and security awareness needs across Europe and beyond.
Design of awareness and training modules, validated with end-users in two workshops, then developed by experts in both training and security.
Testing and evaluation of the modules by rail companies in the consortium, with feedback taken into account to adapt and improve the training modules.
Dissemination through the UIC Rail Security Hub, an online platform where users can retrieve information on security solutions and share operational experiences.

IMPRESS project work packages organisation

Consortium

Coordinated by the UIC Security Division, the project is implemented in partnership with the security services of several major European railway companies and one police university.

Coordinator

UIC – International Union of Railways

Partners

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:

International organisations

RAILPOL (European Network of Railway Police Forces)
COLPOFER (Collaboration des Services de Police Ferroviaire et de Sécurité)
UITP (International Association for Public Transport)

Rail sector

DB (Germany)
Eurostar (International)
EUSKOTREN (Spain)
EVR – EESTI RAUDTEE (Estonia)
INFRABEL (Belgium)
Koleje Śląskie (Poland)
RPF of Indian Railways (India)
SNCF (France)
Transport Canada (Canada)
RSSB (UK)
Wiener Linien (Austria)

Authorities

If you wish to apply to join the IMPRESS Advisory Board, please contact us.

Get involved

Contact the project team to express your interest in joining the advisory board.

Where our partners are

IMPRESS consortium partners across Europe.

News & Events

Deliverables

WP	Deliverable	Deliverable name	Lead partner	Delivery	Dissemination
WP1	D1.1	Quality assurance plan	UIC	July 2023	SEN
WP1	D1.2	Mid-term report progress	UIC	July 2024	SEN
WP1	D1.3	Output and results indicators	UIC	May 2025	SEN
WP2	D2.1	Security training needs in rail environment	UIC	November 2023	SEN
WP3	D3.1	Report on the design of the global training programme/curriculum	DHPol	March 2024	SEN
WP3	D3.2	Training modules – First version	DHPol	September 2024	SEN
WP3	D3.3	Training modules – Revised version	DHPol	May 2025	SEN
WP4	D4.1	Report on the training sessions	UIC	October 2024	SEN
WP4	D4.2	Report on the evaluation	DHPol	March 2025	SEN
WP5	D5.1	IMPRESS public website with a restricted area	UIC	July 2023	PU
WP5	D5.2	Project brochure	UIC	July 2023	PU
WP5	D5.3	Dissemination and exploitation plan – First version	UIC	November 2023	PU
WP5	D5.4	Dissemination and exploitation plan – Final version	UIC	May 2025	PU

Scientific Publications

Havârneanu GM, et al. (2024). Design of the IMPRESS training for railway staff and awareness program for the general public. Médecine de Catastrophe – Urgences Collectives. DOI: 10.1016/j.pxur.2024.07.003

(IM)PRESS Reviews

Key Public Results

IMPRESS public results include an awareness video, multilingual digital awareness campaigns, and a serious game to spark discussions about suspicious behaviours in the rail environment. The serious game is based on the “Where’s Waldo” book series: the viewer looks for specific things in a busy image, in this case suspicious behaviours. The game board comes with a solutions image and is meant as a starting point for discussion.