Railroad contingency planning is linked up with an elaborate government network including the Departments of Transportation, Defense (principally the Joint Chiefs of Staff). Justice, Commerce, and Energy and the Interstate Commerce Commission. The railroads have played a key role in the response to regional and national emergencies and natural disasters. However, Department of Energy allocation rules limited the contribution railroads were able to make during the oil supply disruptions of the 1970s. In general, government can improve the performance of railroads in emergencies by 1.(i) remaining out of the fuel market;2.(ii) assuming repair and maintenance responsibility for certain segments of track serving defense installations;3.(iii) allocating fuel from government stocks in certain instances:4.(iv) Permitting and, where necessary, providing rapid repair of communications;5.(v) granting expanded railroad police jurisdiction:6.(vi) moving further in the direction of railroad deregulation.
