The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) presents its deepest condolences to its Russian colleagues of Moscow Metro and to the families of the victims and expresses its solidarity and support.

Moscow Metro is a member of UITP Security Commission, a permanent working group set up in 2004 to respond to the growing challenges of security in public transport.

Although the prevention of crime and terrorist activities as such is the prime responsibility of governments, the public transport sector also has to make concerted efforts to protect its passengers and infrastructure.

UITP Security Commission has been set up in this sense as a forum to exchange best practices of public transport security and produces publications and guidelines.

Together with the other UITP members of the same Commission, Moscow Metro remains committed to improving security solutions in public transport.

“My thoughts are with the victims and bereaved and whilst loss of life is unacceptable, terrorism cannot be allowed to change our normal way of life.” said Geoff Dunmore, London Underground Operational Security Manager & Chair of UITP Security Commission.

“There is no ‘silver bullet’ to prevent terrorism and it is important to respond in a proportionate way to the threat: we must continue to provide an essential service such as public transport to keep our citizens and our economies moving”

“Around 60 billions passenger trips have been made by public transport in Europe in 2008. Proportionately, this means that public transport remains a safe and secure mode of transport, and actually the safest.”

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Notes to Editors

UITP (International Association of Public Transport) is the international network for public transport authorities and operators, policy decision-makers, scientific institutes and the public transport supply and service industry. It is a platform for worldwide cooperation, business development and the sharing of know-how between its 3,200 members from 90 countries.

UITP is the global advocate for public transport and sustainable mobility, and the promoter of innovations in the sector. For more information, visit www.uitp.org.