(Norfolk Southern issued the following news release on September 12.)
NORFOLK, Va. — A special train operated by Norfolk Southern Railway will visit Maryland, Pennsylvania and Ohio September 18-22 to promote Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response (TRANSCAER(R)), a nationwide program to increase understanding of the safe transportation of hazardous materials and the importance of emergency response training and planning.
“The TRANSCAER tour underscores Norfolk Southern’s commitment to the safety of the communities in which we operate,” said Chuck Wehrmeister, 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 and the transport of hazardous materials by rail.”
The schedule for the 2006 TRANSCAER Whistle-Stop Tour will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as follows:
* Sept. 18 — Baltimore (North Point Boulevard and Rolling Mill Road)
* Sept. 19 — Harrisburg (McClay Street between Seventh and Cameron)
* Sept. 20 — Pittsburgh (2700 Preble Ave.)
* Sept. 21 — Columbus (1875 Frebis Ave.)
* Sept. 22 — Cincinnati (735 Laidlaw Ave.)
At each location, state and local emergency planning committees, emergency responders and government officials can participate in hands-on drills and training sessions. Railroad training tank cars, specialized emergency response vehicles and over-the-road tank trucks will be on display. More than 150 participants are expected for each stop.
This is the seventh TRANSCAER train Norfolk Southern has sponsored since 1994. More information, including local contacts, tour times and program information, is available at http://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, Chemical Educational Foundation and National Tank Truck Carriers Inc.
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,200 route miles in 22 states, the District of Columbia and Ontario, Canada, serving every major container port in the eastern United States and providing superior connections to western rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is North America’s largest rail carrier of automotive parts and finished vehicles.