NORFOLK, Va., Aug. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Norfolk
Southern's Whistle-Stop Safety Train continues its journey this
week, traveling through Ohio
Aug. 4-6 to deliver a life-saving
message to motorists and pedestrians about staying safe around
railroad tracks.
The safety train, a partnership between Norfolk Southern and
Operation Lifesaver, a national rail safety public education
organization, will stop in Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Bellevue, Cleveland, and Alliance. The train last week traveled through
South Carolina and North Carolina.
"Ohio had a 21 percent increase
in the number of grade crossing collisions in 2014, which
underscores why this train and its message are so important for
Ohioans to hear," said Cayela Wimberly, grade crossing safety
director at Norfolk Southern. "We will be talking this week to
motorists, parents, school officials, photographers, rail fans,
public safety officers, and others about a common sense safety
message – when you see tracks, think train."
Last year, 267 people died in the U.S. in highway-rail grade
crossing incidents, an increase of 16 percent compared with 2013,
and deaths due to trespassing on train tracks jumped 22 percent to
526 people, according to Federal Railroad Administration
statistics.
Ohio had the eighth highest
number of grade crossing collisions in the nation last year with
86, compared with 71 the year before. Four people died in grade
crossing collisions in Ohio in
2014.
Trespassing on railroad property in Ohio accounted for 13 people killed in 2014, a
38 percent drop compared with 21 fatalities in 2013.
"We will remain vigilant and promote safety until that number is
zero," Wimberly said. "Trespassing on railroad property is not only
illegal, it puts your life at risk. It's not worth it."
The safety train will be pulled by NS' newest commemorative
locomotive, the NS 9-1-1, which honors first responders across
Norfolk Southern's 22-state network. The train includes two
restored Pullman passenger rail cars with television monitors
showing a live video feed from a camera mounted on the lead
locomotive. Passengers see firsthand what engineers see from the
locomotive cab. The train also includes the Norfolk Southern
Exhibit Car, which showcases the benefits of rail freight
transportation.
"This Ohio Whistle-Stop tour is about building partnerships in
our communities with people who can become safety advocates," said
Gena Shelton, state coordinator for
Operation Lifesaver Ohio. "Have a conversation with your neighbors,
your friends, your children about why you should obey traffic
signals at grade crossings and stay away from railroad property. It
could save a life."
Attendees of the Whistle-Stop tour are hearing from Ohio native Mark
Kalina Jr., a double-amputee due to a train-pedestrian
incident in Columbus in 2012.
"People in every state need to hear this message, and I'm
grateful I can be an advocate for safety here in my home state,"
Kalina said. "Your safety, your life, and the lives of others are
not worth risking just to save a few minutes by taking a shortcut
across railroad tracks or trying to beat a train at a grade
crossing."
Invited guests on the train include county and municipal
leaders, state and local transportation officials, law enforcement
officers, emergency responders, school transportation directors,
trucking officials, news media, and others who have a vested
interest in public safety.
The Whistle-Stop Safety Train Schedule is:
- Tuesday, Aug. 4: Cincinnati-Dayton-Columbus
- Wednesday, Aug. 5: Columbus-Bellevue
- Thursday, Aug. 6: Bellevue-Cleveland-Alliance
About Operation Lifesaver
Operation Lifesaver is a national nonprofit safety organization
whose mission is to end collisions, deaths, and injuries at
highway-rail grade crossings and along railroad rights of way.
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