The Surrey Board of Trade has issued a Proclamation for Rail Safety Week from September 19-25, 2022 to raise awareness of the dangers of ignoring safety warnings at level crossings and trespassing on rail property to reduce avoidable deaths, injuries and damage caused by incidents involving trains and citizens.
“Trains are an important part of our transportation network, not only for transporting people and goods, but moving necessary supplies to communities all over BC,” said Anita Huberman, President & CEO, Surrey Board of Trade. “Surrey has a significant railway network that is a part of our economic foundation.”
Rail Safety Week is held in Canada, the United States, and Mexico from September 19-25, 2022.
For Rail Safety Week, and every week before and after, remember to stay safe and:
• Expect a train and proceed onto the tracks with caution.
• Look and listen for signals. A signal can be a marked “X” on the road, or a stop sign in front of the track. It can also be red lights and a bell, or like in the photo above, a bell and a gate.
• Stay put — don’t drive around a gate. It’s not only illegal but can have deadly consequences.
• Keep moving; do not stop on the tracks! Make sure there is enough time to get from one side to the other.
• Call 911 immediately in the case of an emergency. Also, look for the 1-800 emergency notification number, posted on or near the crossing signal, to notify railway personnel of emergency situations.
• Always remember to look, listen and be safe when crossing railway tracks.
“Rail safety is a shared responsibility. By looking out for each other and working together, we can help keep Surrey safe and prevent injuries and fatalities on or near railway property. It’s all about constant communication to warn each other of the dangers of trespassing and crossing illegally and to sensitize citizens about safe behaviours that help save lives. All incidents can be prevented.”
Questions or concerns about rail safety in Surrey, please contact 1-888-888-5909. For additional information about Rail Safety Week 2022, please consult cn.ca/railsafety or operationlifesaver.ca.
