Iowa Northern Railway develops short-line safety training program

The Iowa Northern Railway Co. (IANR) has entered the final planning phase for the development of a comprehensive safety education and training program for short lines.

The safety training effort is being supported by a $6.7 million grant from the federal Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program (CRISI).

The grant is helping to fund the development and deployment of computer-based training courses delivered through a learning management system, as well as in-person training courses offered at the IANR's training center in Waterloo, Iowa, at a participating short line or at another remote location.

The courses will focus on compliance with Federal Railroad Administration safety and operating regulations, as well as industry best practices, and will cover topics such as 49 CFR Part 243 training, leadership and development, operating rules, mechanical and MOW training. Locomotive simulator training also will be available.

"We are excited to begin this project in earnest, following more than a year of preparation, working with the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association and our short-line industry peers," said IANR President Dan Sabin in a press release. "We firmly believe that this program has the potential to have a wide and lasting positive safety impact on our industry."

The short-line association will provide staff, training and administration expertise to IANR during the program's development. Rollout is expected to begin this summer.