Dupage Policy Journal

As Rail Safety Week commences, Operation Lifesaver emphasizes the importance of understanding rail safety measures. Here are some key tips to stay safe around railroad tracks:

Freight trains do not follow fixed schedules, and passenger train schedules often change. It is essential to always expect a train. All train tracks are private property, making it illegal and dangerous to walk on them.

A freight train traveling at 55 mph requires more than a mile to stop, equivalent to the length of 18 football fields. The average locomotive weighs about 400,000 pounds or 200 tons but can weigh up to 6,000 tons. This makes the weight ratio of a car to a train similar to that of a soda can to a car.

Trains have the right of way over pedestrians and vehicles, including police and emergency vehicles, 100% of the time. It is crucial to stay at least 15 feet back from the tracks as trains overhang them. Always assume railroad tracks are in use even if they appear unused or covered with weeds.

Trains can move on any track in either direction at any time. Sometimes locomotives push train cars instead of pulling them, especially in commuter and light rail passenger services. Today's trains are quieter and faster than before, producing no telltale "clackety-clack" sounds.

It is important to cross train tracks only at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings and obey all warning signs and signals posted there. Staying alert around railroad tracks is crucial; avoid texting, using headphones, or other distractions that could prevent you from hearing an approaching train.

Operation Lifesaver's rail safety tips serve as a reminder that only trains belong on the tracks and emphasize the importance of vigilance near railroad areas.