(Norfolk Southern issued the following news release on May 18.)
NORFOLK, VA. — For the second consecutive year, TRANSCAER(R) awarded its annual National Achievement Award to Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC).
TRANSCAER(R), or Transportation Community Awareness Emergency Response, is a nationwide community outreach program designed to promote chemical transportation emergency preparedness and awareness in communities. TRANSCAER fosters partnerships among chemical producers, distributors, carriers, first responders and government agencies.
Norfolk Southern received the award for its outstanding support of TRANSCAER(R) and for its excellence in four areas: activities, organization commitment, financial support and manpower investment.
In 2003, Norfolk Southern conducted 84 TRANSCAER(R) training programs, drills and exercises, bringing more than 442 hours of instruction time to nearly 3,500 emergency responders.
“The real winners are the communities we serve,” said Dave Schoendorfer, NS manager hazardous materials. “Their emergency responders now have more information and updated skills to assist in public safety efforts.”
NS also sponsored a Whistle-Stop Tour in 2003 that traveled to five cities in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Approximately 1,000 emergency responders were trained during the week-long tour. The program included both hands-on and classroom training taught by instructors from carriers, chemical manufacturers, emergency response contractors and government.
NS provided scholarships for firefighters to attend training at the Association of American Railroads’ Hazardous Materials Training Center in Pueblo, Co., and made financial contributions to select community emergency response departments.
Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates 21,500 route miles in 22 states, the District of Columbia and Ontario, serving every major container port in the eastern United States and providing superior connections to western rail carriers. NS operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is the nation’s largest rail carrier of automotive parts and finished vehicles.