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PA CHIEFS OF POLICE ASSOCIATION
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BULLETIN
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WINTER 2016
www.pachiefs.orgAskRail, a mobile phone app launched by Class I railroads
in 2015, is one of these innovative tools. It is designed to
prepare first responders for a rail emergency by giving
them access to information in the event of a rail incident.
Responders with the app can, for example, use a railcar
ID search to see if a railcar is carrying hazardous material,
view the contents of an entire train, and see emergency
contact information for all Class I railroads and Amtrak.
AskRail, as well as CSX’s similar Rail Respond phone
app, exemplify the freight rail story: massive private in-
vestments—$25 billion annually over the last several
years—are catalyzing the development of technologies and
training that make a safe network even safer.
The statistics speak for themselves. The train accident rate
fell by 79 percent since 1980 and 38 percent since 2000.
According to the most recent statistics available from the
Federal Railroad Administration, 2014 was the safest year
on record for freight railroads.
Through efforts that focus on prevention, mitigation and
response to incidents, America’s railroads are paving the
path to safety through innovation.
TRAINING AND COMMUNITY RESPONSE PLANNING
Pennsylvania’s 57 freight railroads, including Norfolk
Southern (NS), CSX, CN and CP, collaborate with cit-
ies, counties, the state and the federal government to draft
response plans in the case of a rail incident, as well as pro-
vide training to first responders.
Earlier this year, NS unveiled a new educational train
and website to help first responders across its network
respond to potential rail-related incidents. The other ma-
jor railroad operating in Pennsylvania, CSX, also has a
“safety train” traveling its network. These trains include
classrooms and various railcars that provide opportuni-
ties for hands-on training. The new NS safety train visited
Harrisburg in May.
The Security and Emergency Response Training Center
(SERTC) in Pueblo, Colorado is another key venue for
training. More than 20,000 first responders are trained ev-
ery year at the facility, a collaboration between the rail in-
dustry and the Federal Railroad Administration, through
individual railroad efforts and industry programs. The
center also offers free, web-based training for those who
cannot attend in person.
ASKRAIL, TRAINING, AND
INNOVATION
BOOSTING
PENNSYLVANIA RAIL SAFETY
ASKRAIL, TRAINING, AND INNOVATION BOOSTING PENNSYLVANIA RAIL SAFETY
By Emily Traiforos
Pennsylvania’s emergency responders have new tools
at their disposal for training for and responding
to incidents involving railroads.