YOUR ULTRA BRIEF ⚡

  • Railroads train thousands of emergency responders annually.
  • The AskRail app gives 2.3M+ responders real-time hazmat car info.
  • 24/7 teams and plans ensure coordination with agencies and rapid emergency response.

Freight railroads prioritize the safety of employees and communities, continuously enhancing their already secure network. As the safest land transport for hazardous materials, they train tens of thousands of first responders annually and developed the AskRail app in 2014 to provide real-time hazmat railcar data for emergency responders. Railroads also maintain 24/7 hazmat safety teams, emergency experts, and hotlines while collaborating with industry and government partners like the FRA, PHMSA, TSA, and FEMA to strengthen emergency response efforts.

Railroads work with partners and the government to annually train tens of thousands of emergency responders.

Programs are tailored to meet the specific needs and availability of responders, covering a range of topics from general rail operations to specialized response courses. Railroads engage with local firehouses across the country, conducting hazmat training and emergency simulations through initiatives such as the TRANSCAER Safety Train—a mobile classroom.

For those unable to attend in-person training, railroads also offer free online self-study courses, providing accessible options for continued education. In Pueblo, CO, at the Security & Emergency Response Center (SERTC), first responders receive immersive, realistic hazmat training through full-scale scenarios. SERTC’s onsite resident courses range from 24 to 80 hours, led by the skillful instructors of Team SERTC, drawing on their years of experience in fire service, hazmat response and contracting, emergency medical response, railroads and industrial environments.

Today, more than 2.3 million first responders have access to AskRail.

In partnership with the International Association of Fire Chiefs, freight railroads created the free AskRail app, which provides first responders with timely data about what type of hazmat a railcar is carrying so they can make an informed decision about how to respond to a rail emergency safely.

A critical risk assessment to evaluate how AskRail performed highlighted the need for a more centralized, universal approach to provide AskRail data directly to both professional and volunteer firefighters. In addition to greatly expanding the availability of AskRail, this new approach enhances continuity of access and information; ensures the reliability of communications streams and streamlines communications to allow for more efficient response.

Freight railroads work with local fire, health, education and emergency response teams to create and assess emergency response plans.

To enhance first responders’ readiness for potential rail hazmat incidents, railroads share an inventory of emergency response resources along crude oil routes, including equipment locations and contacts. Collaborating with government agencies, they developed the Rail Corridor Risk Management System (RCRMS), a sophisticated tool for selecting safer routes based on factors like hazmat volume and emergency response capability.

Railroads regularly engage with on-the-ground first responders, provide rigorous employee training, and share confidential commodity flow information with emergency agencies. State Emergency Response Commissions are notified about routes of trains carrying one million or more gallons of Bakken crude oil.

Freight railroads are prepared to respond to emergencies.

Railroads collaborate with dedicated police forces and deploy full-time personnel, environmental, industrial hygiene, hazmat, and medical consultants strategically across their extensive freight rail network. These professionals, available 24/7, focus on hazmat safety and emergency response.

Railroads also position emergency response equipment along routes, maintain a supportive police force, and offer 24-hour emergency hotlines for first responders and the public. When a hazardous substance incident occurs, railroads follow strict regulations and work closely with government agencies and safety experts to immediately contain the situation, protect the health and safety of citizens and the environment, remediate any impacts and carefully return to service.

Examples of Class I Railroads’ Training in Action

CPKC regularly provides advanced emergency response training to community first responders, equipping firefighters with the necessary skills to safely respond to railway emergencies. Community firefighters regularly train at TEEXs, a leading HazMat training center in Texas, where their firefighting expertise is matched with technical training tailored to railway scenarios.

Louisiana First Responders before UP Hazmat Tank Car

In 2022, Union Pacific conducted its largest-ever hazmat training in central Louisiana, providing hands-on experience to over 230 first responders from 22 fire districts. The “Railroading 101” class allowed participants to interact with locomotives, boxcars, and tank cars, enhancing their emergency preparedness. The training focused on real-world, hands-on exercises, including handling protective housings, valves, and truck components. Union Pacific’s initiative strengthens relationships with local emergency responders, ensuring better preparedness for rail-related incidents.

Norfolk Southern’s Operation Awareness & Response (OAR) program, launched in 2015, enhances hazmat safety education and strengthens relationships with first responders across its network. Building on TRANSCAER® outreach efforts, OAR provides expanded training opportunities, including classroom, web-based, and hands-on exercises, as well as participation in full-scale drills. The program also supports high-level responder training at SERTC and offers tools like the AskRail app for real-time hazmat shipment data. In 2016, Norfolk Southern introduced a dedicated safety train with a specialized classroom boxcar and tank cars for hands-on training along its rail lines.

BNSF locomotive engineer and hazmat response tech Tom Bozyk was recognized in 2022 with the TRANSCAER® Regional Service Award for his leadership in rail safety training for first responders in Canada. As a BNSF Hazmat Emergency Response Team member in Winnipeg, Bozyk volunteers to train local emergency responders, conducting mock drills with rail equipment and strengthening community preparedness. Even during COVID-19, he adapted by providing virtual training to keep safety education ongoing. His dedication to rail safety and emergency response has earned widespread recognition, helping ensure communities are prepared for potential hazmat incidents.

CSX specialized train helps build relationships between CSX employees and emergency response agencies to improve safety in the communities CSX serves. Their safety train is equipped with various types of hazmat tank cars, allowing first responders to interact with and learn about the equipment in a controlled environment. It provides hands-on training for first responders, contractors, and CSX employees, helping them safely and effectively respond to hazmat incidents.

CN recently hosted first responder training at Harrison Yard in Memphis, TN, reinforcing its commitment to community safety and emergency preparedness. Led by Dangerous Goods Officer Greg “Spinner” Vaughan, the session provided hands-on experience for 12 Memphis Fire Department members, covering safety protocols, rail operations, and emergency response coordination. This event is one of hundreds of trainings CN conducts annually, with over 130,000 first responders trained since 1998, ensuring first responders are prepared for any rail-related incidents.