Using the climate-controlled boxcar, UP will pair classroom education with first-hand rail operations observations to provide emergency responders an enhanced learning experience. The training will cover a variety of topics including how hazardous materials are shipped, tank car types and construction, and the railroad’s protocol in the event of a derailment.
The mobile classroom also will be used in conjunction with UP’s training tank cars to provide hands-on experience in assessing tank car damage, including making various on-site repairs, controlling releases from cars and teaching fire suppression techniques.
UP “ proactively reaches out to fire departments and other emergency responders to offer comprehensive training in communities where the railroad operates,” the company said. “We annually train approximately 2,500 local, state, and federal first-responders on ways to minimize the impact of a potential derailment. In total, UP has trained nearly 38,000 public responders and almost 7,500 private responders (shippers and contractors) since 2003. This includes classroom and hands-on training.”
Union Pacific, in collaboration with The Firefighters Education and Training Foundation, has converted a boxcar into a mobile classroom, expanding its fleet of training equipment used to educate emergency responders.
Using the climate-controlled boxcar, UP will pair classroom education with first-hand rail operations observations to provide emergency responders an enhanced learning experience. The training will cover a variety of topics including how hazardous materials are shipped, tank car types and construction, and the railroad’s protocol in the event of a derailment.
The mobile classroom also will be used in conjunction with UP’s training tank cars to provide hands-on experience in assessing tank car damage, including making various on-site repairs, controlling releases from cars and teaching fire suppression techniques.