National Association of Railroad Passengers: www.narprail.org

Safety Suggestions

Americans for generations have been familiar with the railroad industry slogan, "Safety First." Passengers likewise should keep some common-sense, simple safety suggestions in mind when they are traveling. Train travel is very safe, but it's in your interest to avoid opportunities for accidents and injury that can arise.

At the Station...

• Leave yourself plenty of time. Passengers who are running with luggage risk injury from falls, from tripping on escalators, or by colliding with baggage carts.

• Be careful of slippery conditions. Many Amtrak platforms are outdoors and can be slippery in snowy or icy weather.

• Be careful around tracks and platforms. Assume that a train may be coming at any time. Cross a track only where directed by railroad personnel or in designated locations, and never cross when a moving train is in sight. Never step on top of a rail. Keep yourself well away from the platform edge. Keep small children by the hand - they may be excited by being so close to the train and not realize the danger from running on the platform.

• Watch the platform gap. In places where the platform is even with the train floor, be sure to step over any gap between the train and the platform.

• Use handrails when boarding and exiting. Many platforms are low enough below the floor of the train to require going up and down the train steps. They can be steep, so use the handrail to steady yourself.

• Use handrails when passing between cars. A moving train could hit a bump at any time. To reduce your risk of falling when passing between cars, always hold the handrails to steady yourself (on Amtrak trains, they have red-and-white stripes).

• Do not stand in the vestibule (or car ends) while the train is moving. Enter the vestibule only when passing between cars.

• Familiarize yourself with emergency procedures. On Amtrak trains, there are information cards in seat-back pouches and sleeping car rooms. Pay particular attention to the location of emergency windows and how to operate them.

• Stay in your seat as much as possible. If you need to stand or walk through the train, especially when it is moving, steady yourself by holding seat backs or the edge of overhead luggage racks. There are handrails for you to use in the restrooms.

• Always wear shoes when away from your seat. Vestibule floors can be slippery, and there are metal plates on the floor between cars that can move and injure bare feet.

• Never open exit doors yourself. It is all right to pass from car to car (with care), but let a conductor or attendant open a door for you when it is time to leave the train.

• Do not walk on tracks or play near them. Always assume a train may be about to come. Never step on top of a rail - it is very easy to slip and fall on the back of your head. Never use a bridge or tunnel as a shortcut or fishing pier.

• Do not throw objects at trains. You could hurt someone on the train, or even hurt yourself if the object bounces back at you.

• Do not leave objects on the tracks. Not even pennies - you could injure yourself when you try to retrieve them. Debris could fly toward you when struck by a train, or injure people on board.

• Be careful around electrical wires. Do not climb fences or poles, or fly a kite near wires. Do not approach a fallen wire - call the police instead. Assume that any wire could shock you.

• Be careful around railroad crossings. A train can come at anytime, whether you think so or not. In so many grade crossing accidents, motorists fly through the crossing without ever looking or listening for an approaching train. Some drive around (or through) lowered crossing gates. Some drive into the side of a train that's already in the crossing. Do not be one of these people! Trains are much bigger than your car and cannot stop in time to avoid hitting you if you are in the way. Visit the Operation Lifesaver web site for more about crossing safety.