Safety

April is Rail Runner Safety Awareness Month

The New Mexico Rail Runner Express kicked off Rail Runner Safety Awareness month on April 1^st by giving out some positive reinforcement to motorists who obeyed the rules of the road near railroad tracks. Law enforcement officers from the Town of Bernalillo were at the railroad crossing near Avenida Bernalillo (take I-25 exit #240) recognizing motorists for “good behavior” – instead of bad. 

“This was our way of saying to drivers Thanks for paying attention”, says Lawrence Rael, Executive Director for the Mid-Region Council of Governments. “For the most part, motorists have been very cooperative and attentive since the start of commuter rail service nearly two years ago. And we want to reinforce the good behavior because that’s what saves lives – drivers paying attention to posted warnings and signs near crossings.”

Other events planned in April include:

• Officer on the Train Event – to spot motorists violating traffic rules at crossings

• Rail Runner Goody bag giveaways to 99.5 morning drive radio listeners

• Rail Runner customer appreciation days at various stations throughout the month

• Train Safety Day at Hinkle Family Fun Center (Saturday, April 19 1-4 p.m.

• Operation Lifesaver presentations at schools and service organizations.  Contact Stephanie Paiz to schedule your presentation today.

The New Mexico Rail Runner Express has had a commitment to safety from day one. Our crew and operators undergo thorough training to ensure that your train ride is as safe and secure as possible.

As a passenger, and even as a motorist, there are specific things that you can do to help us achieve our goal of a safe, user-friendly train service:

On Board the Train

• Report any suspicious packages or behaviors immediately to a crew member
• Keep all of your belongings close at hand
• Do not let children walk around the train without adult supervision
• Try to remain seated while the train is in motion. If you need to move around, please use handrails on the stairs and handles on chair tops while moving through the aisles
• Be aware of your surroundings, including the nearest emergency exits
• Do not run on board the train

At the Stations/Platforms

• Stay well behind the yellow line at all times. Do not sit or stand on these lines while waiting for a train
• Keep children under constant adult supervision
• Expect a train at any time, on any tracks, in either direction. Remember, we share the tracks with two other train services that may not stop at our stations
• Do not place any items, such as rocks or coins, on the tracks as they will shoot back at bystanders with the speed of a bullet, and may cause severe injuries
• Do not ride bicycles or skateboards on the platform
• Never step on the tracks or ballast rocks surrounding the tracks

While Driving

• Be aware of signs that warn you of nearby railroad tracks
• Never stop on the tracks:
  When it comes to judging whether part of the vehicle may be left hanging over the tracks: If you can’t fit, don’t commit
• Never pass another car or shift while crossing train tracks
• Stop before the thick white stop line on the pavement to stay clear of lowering crossing gates
• Never try to beat a train

Remember that approaching trains are always closer and moving faster than they appear.

Current Safety Initiatives

The Rail Runner works in conjunction with Operation Lifesaver, a national, non-profit organization developed to promote train safety. With the assistance of OL, Rail Runner staff members have visited more than 100 schools, senior centers, railroad fairs, scout troops, museums, churches, head starts, and many other groups and locations in order to educate the public about railway safety.

Police, fire, ambulance, and other emergency response departments are educated through a variety of outreach methods, including classroom-style and hands-on training, equipment visits, head-end train rides, mock-emergency drills, and terrorism recognition classes. The New Mexico Rail Runner Express works with emergency responders from Belen to Santa Fe to ensure that our local emergency responders are educated on the situations and possible risks associated with railroad right-of-way issues, NMRX and other train equipment, evacuation techniques, and many other possibly lifesaving techniques.

For more information about the Rail Runner’s safety initiatives or to schedule an Operation Lifesaver presentation for your classroom, civic group, employment center, boy/girl scout troop, or any number of other gatherings, contact Stephanie Paiz, Commuter Rail Planner, at 724-3630.