Norfolk Southern Whistle-Stop Train Delivers Safety Training to Emergency Responders in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi

NORFOLK, Va., Sept. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A special train will travel to Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi Sept. 17-21 to provide emergency preparedness training to first responders as part of the 2007 Norfolk Southern TRANSCAER Whistle-Stop Tour.

TRANSCAER (Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response) is a nationwide program that assists communities in preparing for and responding to a possible hazardous material transportation incident.

"The Whistle-Stop Tour brings emergency preparedness training to response organizations and educates communities near major rail routes about rail equipment, chemical transportation and the importance of planning for potential hazardous material transportation emergencies," said Chuck Wehrmeister, Norfolk Southern's vice president safety and environmental.

The tour kicks off in Hattiesburg, Miss., and makes stops in Meridian, Miss.; Tuscaloosa, and Birmingham, Ala.; and Columbus, Ga. More than 1,200 emergency responders are expected to participate in the training programs taught by chemical and rail transportation experts.

At each location, state and local emergency planning committees, emergency responders and government officials can participate in hands-on drills and training sessions. Railroad training tank cars, specialized emergency response vehicles and over-the-road tank trucks will be on display. More than 250 participants are expected at each stop.

This is the eighth TRANSCAER train Norfolk Southern has sponsored since 1994. More information, including local contacts, tour times and program information, is available at http://www.transcaer.org/. TRANSCAER members include volunteer representatives from the chemical manufacturing, transportation and distribution industries, and government. TRANSCAER sponsors include the Association of American Railroads, American Chemistry Council, The Chlorine Institute, Chemical Educational Foundation and National Tank Truck Carriers Inc.

The schedule for the 2007 TRANSCAER Whistle-Stop Tour will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as follows:

-- Sept. 17 - Hattiesburg, Miss., Norfolk Southern rail yard, Front Street -- Sept. 18 - Meridian, Miss., Union Station-downtown, 1901 Front St. -- Sept. 19 - Tuscaloosa, Ala., Merichem Chemicals & Refinery Services LLC, 2701 Warrior Road -- Sept. 20 - Birmingham, Ala., Norfolk Southern rail yard, 2nd Avenue North @ Carraway Boulevard -- Sept. 21 - Columbus, Ga., Norfolk Southern rail yard, end of 12th Street

The following companies and organizations are participating in the tour: Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, DuPont, Firefighters Education and Training Foundation, GATX Corp., Hepaco Inc., Hulcher Services, Miller Transporters Inc., Olin Corp., Operation Lifesaver Alabama and Mississippi, Operation Respond Institute, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, Rohm & Haas, SWS First Response, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Environmental Services and Wittig Transport Inc.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states, the District of Columbia and Ontario, Canada, serving every major container port in the eastern United States and providing superior connections to western rail carriers. NS operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is North America's largest rail carrier of metals and automotive products.