Residents urged to consider train safety in Stockton

  • 2015-09-21
A group of four train operators recently came together in Stockton to stress the importance of being safe when it comes to railway crossings. The message they had was simple: ‘See tracks. Think train.’

In order to help make their point, local community leaders, law enforcement, and the media were given an opportunity to take a free ride on a safety train so they could see some of the public’s foolish railway line practices for themselves. They included people trying to beat the train or even go around the safety gates, both of which are a very dangerous gamble. As well, they saw people walking alongside the tracks on the railway’s private property.

This was all in an effort to help lower the number of injuries and fatalities that occur around rail lines. A firm that provides printing services can help to create a public awareness campaign that aims to make the public more conscious of being safe when they are crossing the tracks, and lets them know that a train could be just around the corner even if they cannot hear it.

According to a Union Pacific engineer, the trains travel between 30 to 40 mile per hour in residential or urban areas, and go as fast as 50 to 70 miles per hour out in the country. He noted that members of the public often fail to realize just how fast a locomotive is travelling.