FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

September 25, 2026 

In case you missed it – AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies joined today Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to ring the Opening Bell in recognition of the 10th anniversary of See Tracks? Think Trains.  

See Tracks? Think Train Week, September 21-27, is annual awareness and education campaign which aims to improve public safety by highlighting how pedestrians and drivers can stay safe around railroad tracks.  

“It was an honor to join together today with our partners from OLI and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association at the NYSE to mark this important milestone,” said Jefferies. “Through billions of dollars in annual investments in infrastructure improvements, technological upgrades, and investment in public education, freight rail is leading the way on efforts to prevent tragedies on rail tracks.  Still, more can and must be done to ensure no lives are lost at the nation’s 200,000 grade crossings. From expanded federal support for the Railroad Crossing Elimination Program to increased public education and vigilance, every American has a role to play to ensure everyone knows how to stay safe around tracks and trains.”  

While railroads’ continued investment has helped reduce crossing collisions by more than 25% since 2000, 95% of all rail-related fatalities still involve people unsafely interacting with tracks according to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), underscoring the need to further educate communities on the ways in which to reduce these preventable tragedies.   

Watch today’s full bell-ringing ceremony here.