Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Marks Rail Safety Month in September with Efforts to Increase Awareness Online

In recognition of Rail Safety Month and U.S. Rail Safety Week in September, the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency, which manages the Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner® service, is elevating educational resources and tools that can help individuals stay safe around railroad tracks.

Digital tools and resources are available on the Pacific Surfliner website including activities for kids, lesson plans for teachers and parents, and downloadable presentations that have been developed by Operation Lifesaver and California Operation Lifesaver (CAOL), two non-profit entities that work year-round to promote rail safety. CAOL will also host the second annual social media rail safety awareness campaign called Rail Safety Partners – Raising Awareness to Save Lives. Followers across all channels can join in taking "the pledge" to make safe decisions near trains and railroad tracks and share the message with family and friends using the hashtag: #SaveLivesTell5.

"Rail Safety Month is a great time for all of us to come together and highlight the importance of being vigilant around the railroad tracks," said Donna DeMartino, Managing Director of the LOSSAN Agency. "It is our honor to support this initiative and help educate the public. We cannot stress enough that walking, jogging, and taking pictures on or near the tracks is not only illegal, but also very dangerous."

September is Rail Safety Month in California, and September 20 – 26, 2021 is U.S. Rail Safety Week across the nation. California leads the nation in annual fatalities due to highway-rail grade crossing and trespassing incidents, according to CAOL and the Federal Railroad Administration.

Most incidents are preventable by following simple safety rules, including:

*Never walk on or along train tracks; it's illegal trespassing and highly dangerous.

*Cross train tracks only at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings, and obey all warning signs and signals posted there.

*Stay alert around railroad tracks. Don't use your phone, wear headphones or let other things distract you and possibly prevent you from hearing an approaching train.

*Report suspicious items, persons, or activity immediately to the Amtrak Police Department by approaching a uniformed officer, calling (800) 331-0008, sending a text to APD11 (27311), or by calling 911. Enter these numbers in your cell phone.

"California Operation Lifesaver is dedicated to raising awareness during Rail Safety Month and all year long. We greatly appreciate our partnership with Pacific Surfliner and our mutual commitment to saving lives with rail safety education. We ask Californians to make safe decisions near tracks and trains and ask them to share rail safety messages with their family and friends." emphasized Executive Director of California Operation Lifesaver, Nancy Sheehan.

In addition to increasing awareness about rail safety, the Pacific Surfliner encourages passengers to follow safety measures and any important public health orders in place during their trip and at their destination. This includes wearing a mask at stations and onboard trains at all times, washing hands or using sanitizer often, and staying home if they are feeling sick. Visit Pacific Surfliner's website for additional information.

About the Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner ® - The Pacific Surfliner travels along a 351-mile coastal rail route through San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, serving 27 stations. It is the busiest state-supported intercity passenger rail route in the United States. To learn more and plan a trip, visit pacificsurfliner.com.

About the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency - The Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency is a joint powers authority composed of rail owners, operators and planning agencies along the entire LOSSAN rail corridor. In addition to working to improve passenger rail ridership, revenue, on- time performance, operational flexibility, and safety, the LOSSAN Agency assumed management responsibility for the Pacific Surfliner service in July 2015, following the execution of an interagency transfer agreement with the state of California. For more information, visit lossan.org.

About California Operation Lifesaver - California Operation Lifesaver is an independent non-profit safety education and awareness program dedicated to ending collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on railroad rights of way in the State of California.

About Operation Lifesaver - Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) is a non-profit organization and nationally-recognized leader of rail safety education. Since 1972, OLI remains committed to preventing collisions, injuries and fatalities on and around railroad tracks and highway-rail grade crossings, with the support of public education programs in states across the U.S.