NORFOLK, Va., Oct. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Norfolk
Southern Corporation's safety train rolled into Atlanta this week, hosting 92 area emergency
responders who received advanced training in safely handling
potential rail incidents involving hazardous materials.
"The safety train is a mobile technical training center – a
vocational school – for the continuing education of first
responders and representatives of government agencies who support
Norfolk Southern's commitment to incident-free handling of
hazardous materials," said David
Schoendorfer, Norfolk Southern's system manager hazardous
materials. "It's a whistle-stop train that helps keep our
communities safe."
Staged this week at the Atlanta Amtrak station, the safety train
attracted representatives of a number of area agencies, including
Georgia Department of Transportation HERO units, law enforcement
officers from the Habersham County
Sheriff's Department, and fire and rescue personnel from
Atlanta, Cobb County, DeKalb
County, Griffin,
Henry County, Smyrna, and Spalding
County.
"This training provides continuing education and familiarization
with processes and equipment Norfolk Southern uses," said
Michael Lewis, battalion chief,
DeKalb County Fire & Rescue in
metro Atlanta. "It helps us
understand the potential hazards of working with railroad
equipment, and it builds relationships that enable us to work as a
team with Norfolk Southern in any kind of rail emergency situation
we may encounter. For us to be able to come here locally and
receive this training is awesome."
The train is visiting 18 cities in 13 states during its
inaugural tour this year. To date, 1,515 emergency responders have
received professional instruction on the train. At every location,
emergency responders can choose from among three days of free
training that includes instructor-led and hands-on learning. The
train includes two boxcars converted into classrooms, four types of
railroad tank cars used in transporting all types of chemicals, and
two specially equipped flat cars.
"Norfolk Southern has a great safety record, but in the unlikely
event of a train derailment involving hazmat, we want to make sure
the communities we serve are prepared," Schoendorfer said. "We are
focusing on areas where we have significant hazmat shipments. It's
a best business practice to help with preparedness."
The train's next stop will be in Chattanooga, Tenn., Oct. 25-27. To register in advance for training
in Chattanooga or at other stops
scheduled this year, visit www.joinNSoar.com and click on
"Training" and "Download Invitation" near the bottom of the page.
The training is beneficial for all emergency responders, including
representatives of fire departments, law enforcement, emergency
medical services, hazmat response teams, emergency management
personnel, military, homeland security personnel, rail regulators,
shippers, and customers.
The dedicated safety train is part of Norfolk Southern's
"Operation Awareness and Response" initiative launched in 2015 to
educate the public about the safe movement of hazardous materials
by rail and to connect emergency first responders in Norfolk
Southern communities with information and training resources.
Including instruction on the train and through other course
offerings, Norfolk Southern in 2016 has trained nearly 4,000 local
emergency responders throughout its operating territory.
About Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the
nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern
Railway Company subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 route
miles in 22 states and the District
of Columbia, serves every major container port in the
eastern United States, and
provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk
Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East
and is a major transporter of coal, automotive, and industrial
products.
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SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation