ORANGE, Calif., Aug. 30, 2022 -- In recognition of Rail Safety Month and U.S. Rail Safety Week in September, the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency, which manages the Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner® service, will partner with California Operation Lifesaver (CAOL) to spread awareness about the importance of safety around train tracks.
"Keeping people safe is an important priority for the Pacific Surfliner," said Jason Jewell, interim managing director of the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency. "We are proud to be partnering with California Operation Lifesaver to raise awareness and provide information on staying safe near train tracks for our Southern California community."
Digital tools are available at PacificSurfliner.com/RailSafety, including activities for kids, lesson plans for teachers and parents, and downloadable presentations developed by Operation Lifesaver and California Operation Lifesaver (CAOL), two non-profit entities that work year-round to promote rail safety.
The Pacific Surfliner has also teamed up with the Los Angeles Angels to promote rail safety with a radio spot encouraging fans to follow safety rules and practices when near train tracks. Fans can hear the radio spot during the month of September on Angels Radio 830AM KLAA.
September is Rail Safety Month in California, and September 19 – 25, 2022 is U.S. Rail Safety Week across the nation. California has the highest number of rail related fatalities in the United States due to highway-rail grade crossing and trespassing incidents, according to CAOL and the Federal Railroad Administration.
Follow simple safety rules whenever around train tracks, including:
- Never walk on or along train tracks; it's illegal, trespassing, and highly dangerous.
- Cross train tracks only at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings and obey all warning signs and signals.
- Stay alert around tracks. Don't do anything that would prevent you from hearing an approaching train, such as listening to headphones or talking on the phone.
- When boarding, remember to stay behind the marked safety line on the station platform and use handholds as you board.
- Report suspicious items, persons, or activity immediately to the Amtrak Police Department by approaching a uniformed officer, calling (800) 331-0008, sending a text to APD11 (27311), or by calling 911.
The Pacific Surfliner, in partnership with Operation Lifesaver, Amtrak, CalTrans, and Metrolink, will host free public events at the Fullerton Transportation Center during Rail Safety Week. Events will take place September 22-25 and feature a variety of presentations, informational booths, themed train cars, and more.
For more information about rail safety or to request a free rail safety presentation, visit PacificSurfliner.com/RailSafety, CAOperationlifesaver.com, or OLI.org.
About the Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner®
The Pacific Surfliner travels along a 351-mile coastal rail route through San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, serving 29 stations. It is the busiest state-supported intercity passenger rail route in the United States. To learn more and plan a trip, visit pacificsurfliner.com.
About the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency
The Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency is a joint powers authority composed of rail owners, operators and planning agencies along the entire LOSSAN rail corridor. In addition to working to improve passenger rail ridership, revenue, on- time performance, operational flexibility, and safety, the LOSSAN Agency assumed management responsibility for the Pacific Surfliner service in July 2015, following the execution of an interagency transfer agreement with the state of California. For more information, visit Lossan.org.
About California Operation Lifesaver
California Operation Lifesaver is an independent non-profit safety education and awareness program dedicated to ending collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on railroad rights of way in the State of California.
About Operation Lifesaver
Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) is a non-profit organization and nationally-recognized leader of rail safety education. Since 1972, OLI remains committed to preventing collisions, injuries and fatalities on and around railroad tracks and highway-rail grade crossings, with the support of public education programs in states across the U.S.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Puja Thomas-Patel, LOSSAN Agency – 714-560-5948, PThomasPatel@
MEDIA CONTACT:
Laura Lanzi, The ACE Agency, lauralanzi@theaceagency.com
On behalf of LOSSAN Agency
