All major railroads have emergency response teams that are on call 24/7 to provide local officials with access to information and other resources — from response equipment staged throughout the network to clothing for displaced families. Railroads’ environmental consultants and contractors work closely with state environmental agencies to remediate any damage following an incident.
To ensure continued operations, railroads rely on comprehensive response plans developed and informed by relevant experts and past experiences. Information sharing between railroads and key government and security stakeholders, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, allows for early detection and mitigation of threats.
First Responder Training: Working with industry and government partners, railroads help train tens of thousands of emergency responders each year, actively collaborate with local officials on emergency response plans and provide the AskRail app.
Community Planning & Hazmat Remediation: 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.
Physical Security: Railroads employ a multi-faceted, cooperative approach that unites private and public sector capabilities to prevent and respond to security threats.
Cybersecurity: Through comprehensive cybersecurity and incident response plans, railroads and rail industry organizations continuously protect their IT networks and operational technology systems from cyber threats.