Rail Safety Week 2018: Change your train of thought

MONTREAL, Sept. 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) today launched its renewed railway safety awareness campaign kicking off Rail Safety Week 2018 across Canada and the United States.

“Too many people die while trespassing on railway property and those fatalities are entirely preventable,” said Stephen Covey, chief of police and chief security officer at CN. “These tragedies can be avoided by staying off railway tracks and by simply obeying crossing signals. With Rail Safety Week coinciding with the back to school period, we are encouraging parents and teenagers to change their train of thought and be safer around trains.”

During Rail Safety Week, CN Police Service (CNPS) will be out in communities across Canada and the United States raising awareness of the potentially devastating consequences of trespassing on railway tracks and disregarding railway safety signs and devices at level crossings.

Visitors to CN’s Rail Safety Pledge website can view virtual reality videos on a desktop, laptop or mobile device, and visitors with access to any Google Cardboard viewer can experience this immersive virtual reality environment.

CN is encouraging the public to take the Rail Safety Pledge online, which they can easily share, with their Facebook friends and Twitter followers.

The Rail Safety Pledge asks people to share rail safety tips in their community, talk about rail safety at their local schools, or report unsafe behaviour around trains or railway property.

“Rail safety is everyone’s responsibility,” said Covey. “By looking out for each other and working together, we can help keep our communities safe and prevent fatalities and injuries on or near railway property. Together we can save lives and help bring crossing and trespassing accidents down to zero.”

Get rail safety tips, take the Rail Safety Pledge, and live the 360° rail safety experience on your computer or mobile device at www.mysafetypledge.com.

CN has been promoting railway safety for more than 25 years through its All Aboard for Safety community education program. Every year, CN employees make hundreds of All Aboard for Safety presentations and talk to more than 300,000 children and adults at schools and community events in Canada and the United States about the importance of safety and the dangers of walking or playing on or near railway tracks.

About CNPS

Every year, CN Police Service responds to hundreds of events along CN’s network across 8 Canadian provinces and 16 U.S. states. In addition to patrolling CN property, CNPS officers deliver rail safety presentations to schools, trucking agencies, bus operators and community organizations. By rolling out strategic educational initiatives and conducting targeted operations, CNPS aims to promote safe behaviours and increase awareness of rail safety. CNPS is committed to making CN the safest railroad in North America.

For information or an interview with CN Police, contact:
Jonathan Abecassis
Manager, Media Relations
514-399-7956