NORFOLK, Va., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 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, 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.
SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation
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