WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Police Get Lesson in Train Safety (WTNH) _ Safety on the tracks is front and center. A four-day police officer training course on rail safety comes on the heels of last week's deadly Amtrak crash near Chicago. With the ultra-modern high speed rail service just months away, precautions are being made to prevent accidents here. News Channel 8's Kristen Cusato reports. People think they can outrun the train. but a train that's traveling 50 miles an hour takes a mile to stop. If an engineer sees something on the tracks, all he can do is throw on the brakes, and hope you get out of the way. Anne Stashiewski, Wallingford: "I wouldn't want to live across here when a high speed train comes by. It's bad enough with a regular train." Anne Stashiewski lives right near the railroad tracks in Wallingford. She's seen car/train fatal accidents. Stashiewski: "There have been accidents and I'm sure there will be more in the future. There's not much you can do about it." In 1998, there were 11 train/vehicle collisions in Connecticut. Four people died last year. Two of them were walking along the tracks. It is illegal to be within 25 feet of railroad tracks. The charge is trespassing. The fine is $77. But more importantly, you could lose your life. Bobby Struthers, Amtrak Engineer: "Trespassers should be careful because it's not like driving a car. If someone steps in front of you and falls they're gonna be in trouble." This week, state and local police are learning how to investigate a train accident and how to reduce the number of people hurt or killed. Ken Gamberdella, Operation Lifesaver: "The injuries are more severe, It's not pleasant to look at." With the high speed Acela train barreling through the state at 150 miles an hour this fall, people need to be even more careful. Ken Gamberdella, Operation Lifesaver: "These trains are electrified. They're quiet. They're going to be going faster. And quite frankly there are times hen you can't hear them coming." Officers and troopers will be training all week with Metro North and Amtrak police. They in turn will take what they learn about railroad safety, and bring it back to the people in their community. Operation Lifesaver is an information program that will travel around to schools and civic groups pushing safety. What they share will be very important come October, when the high speed train is expected to come through the state. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Police Get Lesson in Train Safety
(WTNH) _ Safety on the tracks is front and center. A four-day police officer training course on rail safety comes on the heels of last week's deadly Amtrak crash near Chicago. With the ultra-modern high speed rail service just months away, precautions are being made to prevent accidents here.
News Channel 8's Kristen Cusato reports.

People think they can outrun the train. but a train that's traveling 50 miles an hour takes a mile to stop. If an engineer sees something on the tracks, all he can do is throw on the brakes, and hope you get out of the way.

Anne Stashiewski, Wallingford: "I wouldn't want to live across here when a high speed train comes by. It's bad enough with a regular train."

Anne Stashiewski lives right near the railroad tracks in Wallingford. She's seen car/train fatal accidents.

Stashiewski: "There have been accidents and I'm sure there will be more in the future. There's not much you can do about it."

In 1998, there were 11 train/vehicle collisions in Connecticut. Four people died last year. Two of them were walking along the tracks. It is illegal to be within 25 feet of railroad tracks. The charge is trespassing. The fine is $77. But more importantly, you could lose your life.

Bobby Struthers, Amtrak Engineer: "Trespassers should be careful because it's not like driving a car. If someone steps in front of you and falls they're gonna be in trouble."

This week, state and local police are learning how to investigate a train accident and how to reduce the number of people hurt or killed.

Ken Gamberdella, Operation Lifesaver: "The injuries are more severe, It's not pleasant to look at."

With the high speed Acela train barreling through the state at 150 miles an hour this fall, people need to be even more careful.

Ken Gamberdella, Operation Lifesaver: "These trains are electrified. They're quiet. They're going to be going faster. And quite frankly there are times hen you can't hear them coming."

Officers and troopers will be training all week with Metro North and Amtrak police. They in turn will take what they learn about railroad safety, and bring it back to the people in their community.

Operation Lifesaver is an information program that will travel around to schools and civic groups pushing safety. What they share will be very important come October, when the high speed train is expected to come through the state.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.