CSX Safety Train Reaches More Than 2,000 First Responders on
18-City Tour
"The Safety Train is just one example of CSX's
commitment to helping first responders prepare for potential rail-related
incidents," said Skip Elliott, vice president, public safety, health and
environment, CSX. "In 2014 we expanded our outreach with first responders
and emergency personnel to include training specific to crude-oil movements
along key routes. Interest from public-safety employees was tremendous and we
are happy to have had the chance to partner with so many different
agencies."
The 2014 CSX Safety Train: Energy Preparedness Program tour
began in Philadelphia in May and made 19 stops
in cities along CSX's principal freight routes, ending with a return visit to South Kearny , N.J.
The CSX Safety Train comprises a locomotive, four tank cars,
one flat car equipped with a variety of tank-car valves and fittings, two
classroom cars and a caboose. CSX hazardous-material specialists lead training
sessions with specific instruction on how crude oil and other hazardous
materials are shipped. The training and instruction help strengthen CSX's
partnership with first responders and provide a higher level of emergency
readiness.
"What a huge benefit," said LeeAnn McKay of the
Homewood Acres, Ill. , Volunteer Fire
Department, who participated in Chicago .
"You can tell me, but when you show me how to put on the gasket, close the
valve and stop the leak-that's what sticks."
"This is a great opportunity for first responders and
the railroad for partnership," said Rob Scharnhorst, fire chief for Riverdale , Ill.
"This particular training is extremely important to law
enforcement because we don't get this at the (police) academy," said
Saugerties Police Chief Joseph Sinagra, who visited the Safety Train training
in Kingston, N.Y. "Now we have a better understanding of what can and
can't happen."
The CSX Safety Train is just one of several programs through
which CSX offers training and recognition to emergency responders and
customers. CSX has reached more than 100,000 first responders over the past six
years, through hands-on sessions at training centers operated by CSX and the
Association of American Railroads, classroom training at local fire stations,
exercises and table-top drills, web-based and self-study training courses and
the Safety Train. Also in 2014, CSX hosted more than 90 first responders from
30 communities across the CSX network at crude-by-rail incident response
training at the Security and Emergency Response Training Center (SERTC) in Pueblo , Colo.
"Safety is CSX's first priority," said Romano De
Simone, CSX director-hazardous materials. "Through training opportunities
like the Safety Train, we bring skill- and knowledge-based programs directly to
first responders across our network and better equip first responders to make
fact-based decisions that protect the public."
About CSX
CSX, based in Jacksonville ,
Fla. United States ,
where nearly two-thirds of the nation's population resides. It also links more
than 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with
major population centers and small farming towns alike. More information about
CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com. Like us on
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/OfficialCSX) and follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CSX).
About the Firefighters Education and Training Foundation
The Firefighters Education and Training Foundation is a
not-for-profit corporation based in Springfield ,
Massachusetts United States .
For more information about the Foundation, please visit www.thesafetytrain.org.
Contact:
Rob Doolittle
rob_doolittle@csx.com
202-626-4939