Allied Telesis National Transportation Security Center

Public surface transportation – passenger trains and train stations, freight trains, buses and bus stations and stops, and highway and railway infrastructure – are targets for terrorists and serious criminals. For many terrorist groups, and for jihadist terrorists in particular, passenger train and bus targets, in particular, have been and remain killing fields. But protecting these targets present challenges. To move large masses of people rapidly, the system must be open, with multiple access points. It is, therefore, different than commercial aviation, which has long been based on queues, and can utilize screening and searching of individual travelers. These are challenges that require that transportation regulators and operators understand the trend of attacks. Which targets are attacked most often, with which weapons, and in which countries? The Mineta Transportation Institute’s Allied Telesis National Transportation Security Center is a key player in helping governmental authorities and private operators answer these questions, identify trends, and work to reduce security risks. 

Research Activities

MTI's experts conduct security and emergency management research and our experts provide Congressional testimony and consult with government officials. In addition, MTI is able to provide specific analyses to individual transportation operators through consulting agreements.

Status Update: National Transportation Security Center Proprietary Database

For almost 30 years, the National Transportation Security Center at the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) has tracked terrorist and violent criminal attacks against public surface transportation worldwide. We believe that our proprietary database, which catalogs incidents since January 1, 1970, is the most comprehensive and detailed source of information available. After its last twice-a-month update on March 16, it contained 8,440 attacks

It has been an honor and privilege to serve the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security, the Transportation Security Administration, federal and local law enforcement agencies, transportation systems, and those charged with transportation security—both domestically and internationally. Our objective has been to provide analysis that will assist in preventing attacks or mitigating their consequences, using a unique data-driven ability to discern patterns, frequency, and lethality of attacks in the United States and throughout the world. That commitment continues.

It is with much regret to report that we will no longer be able to maintain and update our database. On March 19, 2025, we received a stop-work order from the Transportation Security Administration. Unfortunately, therefore, we cannot provide updates, including our related monitoring of vehicle ramming attacks. Our other security-related research projects will continue, and the more than 70 reports analyzing threats, attacks, and the effectiveness of security measures are still available on this website under “publications.”

We thank those who have supported us over the past 30 years, including our staff and colleagues in the transportation industry and law enforcement agencies worldwide. Public transportation passengers and staff continue to face a variety of threats. Our work—unfortunately—remains relevant. We hope that it will resume.

Brian Michael Jenkins, Director 

Bruce R. Butterworth, Senior Analyst