NORFOLK, Va. -- A special train will travel to Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia Sept. 15-19 to provide emergency preparedness training to first responders as part of the 2008 Norfolk Southern TRANSCAER Whistle-Stop Tour.
TRANSCAER (Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response) is a nationwide program that assists communities in preparing for and responding to a possible hazardous material transportation incident.
"The Whistle-Stop Tour brings emergency preparedness training to response organizations and educates communities near major rail routes about rail equipment, chemical transportation, and the importance of planning for potential hazardous material transportation emergencies," said Chuck Wehrmeister, Norfolk Southern's vice president safety and environmental.
The tour kicks off in Austell, Ga., and makes stops in Greenville, S.C., Charlotte, N.C., Greensboro, N.C., and Roanoke, Va. More than 1,200 emergency responders are expected to participate in the training programs taught by chemical and rail transportation experts.
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 250 participants are expected at each stop.
This is the ninth TRANSCAER train Norfolk Southern has sponsored since 1994. More information, including local contacts, tour times, and program information, is available at 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, CHEMTREC(R), National Tank Truck Carriers Inc., U.S. Department of Energy (Environmental Management Office), and the Renewable Fuels Association.
The schedule for the 2008 TRANSCAER Whistle-Stop Tour will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as follows:
• Sept. 15 - Austell, Ga., NS Intermodal Facility, 6000 Westside Rd.
• Sept. 16 - Greenville, S.C., Amtrak Station, 1120 W. Washington St.
• Sept. 17 - Charlotte, N.C., NS Coach Yard, North Tryon St. near Amtrak Station
• Sept. 18 - Greensboro, N.C., NS Intermodal Facility, 1105 Meritt Dr.
• Sept. 19 - Roanoke, Va., NS South Yard, Reserve Ave.
The following companies and organizations are participating in the tour: Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, DuPont, Firefighters Education and Training Foundation, BASF, Hepaco Inc., Hulcher Services, Olin Corp., Operation Lifesaver of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, Operation Respond Institute, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Potash Corporation, SWS First Response, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Environmental Services, HMHTTC, National Foam, SRS Emergency Services, CHEMTREC, and Renewable Fuels Association.
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE:NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, 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 metals and automotive products.
