Norfolk Southern’s (NS) safety train has recently completed its 2016 tour, training 1,926 first responders in 18 cities in 13 states across its rail network. The safety train provided free training to first responders, including firefighters, police officers, and emergency management personnel on how to safely respond to a rail-related hazardous materials incident.
“Our safety train allowed us to expand our outreach to more first responders and emergency personnel in more communities than ever before, equipping them with education and resources to help raise their level of emergency preparedness in the unlikely event of a rail incident,” stated David Schoendorfer, NS system manager hazardous materials. “The training also helped us build relationships with first responders across our network.”
The safety train’s final stop for 2016 was in Columbia, S.C., where 73 first responders received training. The train visited Altoona, Pa., Alexandria, Va.; Atlanta; Baltimore; Buffalo, N.Y.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Chicago; Cincinnati, Ohio; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Greenville, S.C.; Harrisburg, Pa.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Newark, N.J.; Norfolk, Va.; Slidell, La.; Spencer, N.C.; and Toledo, Ohio. At each location, NS hazardous materials experts led a four-hour course that included classroom and interactive teaching.
The safety train is made up of a locomotive, two boxcars converted into classrooms, four types of railroad tank cars used in transporting all types of chemicals, and two specially equipped flat cars with a variety of tank-car valves and fittings.
The train is part of Norfolk Southern’s “Operation Awareness and Response” program that connects emergency responders in Norfolk Southern communities with training resources. For further information, visit www.joinNSOAR.com.
Part of the training focused on AskRail™, a mobile application that provides first responders immediate access to real-time data about the type of hazardous material a rail car is carrying.