Safety train prepares Northeast Ohio first responders

Apr 23, 2026

By Kasandra Jenkins, Senior Communications Manager

From April 22–24, Norfolk Southern’s Safety Train stopped in Brook Park, Ohio, bringing hands-on rail safety training to first responders from across Cuyahoga County and the surrounding Northeast Ohio region.

The Safety Train (launched in 2015) is a mobile training classroom designed to give firefighters, hazmat teams, and emergency personnel direct, up-close experience with rail equipment they don’t typically encounter — helping them feel more prepared if they are ever called to respond to a rail-related incident. Rail incidents are rare, but when they do occur, familiarity with rail equipment and operations can make a meaningful difference.

Hosted in Brook Park, the free training was offered through Norfolk Southern’s Operation Awareness & Response (OAR) program and blended classroom instruction with immersive, real-world scenarios aboard the Safety Train.

How it works

The Safety Train pairs classroom learning with guided, hands-on exercises onboard specialized railcars that responders don’t typically have access to. Participants practiced identifying railcar features, reviewing safety procedures, and working through simulated emergency scenarios — from damaged tank cars to potential hazmat leaks.

The training also introduced responders to tools like the AskRail mobile app, which provides critical railcar and commodity information in real time.

In the classroom

First responders from across Cuyahoga County took part in the sessions, including firefighters and members of multiple regional hazardous materials response teams. The classroom setting allowed agencies to align response approaches, share best practices, and strengthen coordination before an emergency ever happens.

What we’re saying

“It’s important for us to develop those relationships with the first responders here because this is not just a place where our network travels through, but a place where many of our railroaders live and work as well.”— Kasandra Jenkins, Norfolk Southern, Communications Manager

“It’s a really unique opportunity and we’re privileged to have [the Safety Train] be right here where we can take advantage of it.” — Mark Vedder, Director of the Chagrin/Southeast Regional Hazardous Materials Response Team (Chagrin Falls, OH)

What’s next
The Cleveland-area stop is part of a broader Safety Train tour planned across the system this year. The next stop for the train is in Dayton, Ohio, in May 2026, with additional communities scheduled in the months ahead.

Learn more: Norfolk Southern safety train stops in Cleveland for hands-on first responder training - cleveland.com

Kasandra Jenkins assists with external communications for Norfolk Southern, focusing on community impact, awards, and media relations. Kasandra joined NS in 2025, with more than 10 years of media relations, and corporate/crisis communications experience.