Whistle-stop Train Delivers Safety Training to Emergency Responders in New York, Ohio and West Virginia
A special train will travel to New York, Ohio and West Virginia
Sept. 22-26 to provide emergency preparedness training to first
responders as part of the 2009 Norfolk Southern TRANSCAER Whistle-Stop Tour. TRANSCAER (Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response) is a nationwide program that assists communities in preparing for and responding to a possible hazardous material transportation incident.
"The TRANSCAER Whistle-Stop Tour underscores Norfolk
Southern's commitment to the safety of the communities in which we
operate," said David Julian, Norfolk Southern's vice president safety
and environmental. "The training provides first responders with a
unique opportunity to gain important hands-on knowledge about railroad
equipment, the transport of chemical materials by rail, and the
importance of planning for potential hazardous material transportation
emergencies."
The tour kicks off in Buffalo, N.Y., and makes stops in
Cleveland, Toledo, and Columbus, Ohio, winding up in Charleston, W.Va.
At each location, state and local emergency planning committees,
emergency responders, and government officials can participate in
hands-on drills and training sessions conducted by chemical and rail
transportation experts. Railroad tank cars used for training,
specialized emergency response vehicles, and over-the-road tank trucks
will be on display. More than 200 participants are expected at each
stop.
This is the tenth TRANSCAER train Norfolk Southern has
sponsored since 1994. More information, including local contacts, tour
times, and program information, is available at www.transcaer.org.
TRANSCAER members include volunteer representatives from the chemical
manufacturing, transportation and distribution industries, and
government. TRANSCAER sponsors include the Association of American
Railroads, American Chemistry Council, The Chlorine Institute,
CHEMTREC(R), The Fertilizer Institute, National Association of Chemical
Distributors, National Tank Truck Carriers Inc., U.S. Department of
Energy (Environmental Management Office), and the Renewable Fuels
Association.
The schedule for the 2009 TRANSCAER Whistle-Stop Tour will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as follows:
- Sept. 22 - Buffalo, N.Y. NS Bison Yard, 50 Bison Parkway.
- Sept. 23 - Cleveland, Ohio, NS East 55(th) Street Yard, 4790 Crayton Ave.
- Sept. 24 - Toledo, Ohio, NS Yard, 343 Emerald Ave.
- Sept. 25 - Columbus, Ohio, NS Bulk Terminal, 1875 Frebis Ave.
- Sept. 26 - Charleston, W.Va., Morris St. and Piedmont Rd.
The following companies and organizations are participating with Norfolk
Southern in the tour: DuPont, BASF, Norfalco Corp., GATX, Schneider
National, Operation Lifesaver of New York, Ohio and West Virginia, U.S.
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department
of Energy, U.S. Department of Transportation, Amtrak, Specialized
Professional Services Inc., Sunpro, Midwest Environmental, Eagle/SWS
Environmental, React Environmental Services Inc., and VPS of Vermont.