WASHINGTON – In light of intelligence gathered from a raid on the Osama bin Laden Pakistani compound indicating al Qaeda was in the early stages of planning an attack on US train infrastructure, US Senator Charles Schumer Sunday said he would push for increased funding for rail security. That would pay for greater track inspections for commuter and passenger rail systems as well as increased monitoring and support for local law enforcement security at local train stations.

The senator also called on the Department of Homeland Security to use the Secure Flight program and expand its use to Amtrak, creating a “No Ride List” to keep suspected terrorists off US rail infrastructure.

Metro-North operates commuter rail service in the region on the Hudson, Harlem, New Haven, Port Jervis and Pascack Valley lines and Amtrak operates on the Hudson Line tracks along the east side of the Hudson River.