Railroads, Operation Lifesaver mark national Rail Safety Week

Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI) and railroads across the country have designated this week as national Rail Safety Week to raise awareness of safety practices near, on and around trains and railroad property.

Throughout the week, OLI will host events aimed at educating pedestrians and drivers about ways to stay safe around railroad tracks and grade crossings. OLI's rail safety push will include radio and digital public service ad campaigns.

"We are grateful for the positive response from our rail safety partners across the U.S. as activities for Rail Safety Week have been planned," said OLI President and Chief Executive Officer Bonnie Murphy in a press release.

OLI this morning was scheduled to host a press conference to provide more details about Rail Safety Week, which runs through Sept. 30. The conference will include remarks from Murphy, Amtrak Chief Operating Officer Scot Naparstek and Association of American Railroads Senior Vice President of Safety and Operations Mike Rush.

Freight railroads and transit agencies will participate in several safety events, too. Union Pacific Railroad, for example, has scheduled Crossing Accident Reduction, Education and Safety (UPCARES) events with law enforcement officers. UP will continue to share its digital and social media safety messages, including videos from its "Your Life is Worth the Wait" campaign.

"Rail Safety Week participation will help raise awareness about the importance of drivers and pedestrians using caution anytime they approach railroad crossings," said Rod Doerr, Union Pacific vice president-safety, in a press release.

For its part, CSX is releasing two new safety awareness videos aimed at providing a "creative perspective on a serious topic," according to an announcement on the railroad's website.

The railroad developed the videos in partnership with Wide Angle Youth Media, a nonprofit organization focused on media arts education as a way to inspire and support underserved youth in Baltimore.

Since 2014, CSX has worked with students from the organization to develop media campaigns that communicate rail safety messages in a way that resonates with their peers.

Among transit-rail agencies, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) today will hold a rail-safety event in partnership with its commuter-rail operator Keolis Commuter Services and transit police in Boston.

Meanwhile, Canadian Pacific is launching a safety campaign called CP RailSense, which will encourage residents to stay safe around tracks during the back-to-school season.

The Canadian Pacific Police Service will use the campaign as part of its annual back-to-school rail safety campaign taking place this week.