City of Joliet, IL
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General
(815) 724-3100
Non-Emergency
(815) 726-2491
Rail Safety
Track Safety Basics
•Freight trains don't travel at fixed times, & schedules for passenger trains often change. Always expect a train at each highway-rail intersection at any time.
•All train tracks are private property. Never walk on tracks; it's illegal trespass & highly dangerous. It takes the average freight train traveling at 55 mph more than a mile (the length of 18 football fields) to stop.
•Trains cannot stop quickly enough to avoid a collision.
•The average locomotive weighs ~400,000lbs (200 tons); it can weigh up to 6,000 tons. This makes the weight ratio of a car to a train proportional to that of a soda can to a car. We all know what happens to a soda can hit by a car.
•Trains have the right of way 100% of the time over all vehicles and pedestrians.
•A train can extend 3ft or more beyond the steel rail, putting the safety zone for pedestrians well beyond the 3ft mark. If there are rails on the railroad ties, always assume the track is in use, even if there are weeds or the track looks unused.
•Trains can move in either direction at any time. Sometimes its cars are pushed by locomotives instead of being pulled, which is especially true in commuter & light rail passenger service.
•Today's trains are quieter than ever, producing no telltale "clackety-clack." Any approaching train is always closer, moving faster, than you think.
•Remember to cross train tracks ONLY at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings, & obey all warning signs & signals posted there.
•Stay alert around railroad tracks. Refrain from texting, headphones or other distractions that would prevent you from hearing an approaching train; never mix rails & recreation.
Railroad Trespassing
•Never walk, run, play or take pictures on the railroad right-of-way. If you are on or near the tracks, you are trespassing on private property and breaking the law.
•Never attempt to outrun an approaching train. It can take a train a mile or more to stop.
•If you’re standing on the train tracks, you may not hear or feel an oncoming train in time to get away safely.
•Only cross the tracks at designated public crossings.
Crossing Safety
•Never drive or walk around lowered grade crossing gates.
•Never attempt to outrun an approaching train.
•Never stop your vehicle on a grade crossing waiting for traffic to move.
•Never begin to drive across the tracks unless you can get all the way across.
•Always call the Emergency Notification System (ENS) number 24 hours a day to report problems or obstructions at the crossing. Look for the number on the blue sign near the crossing or on the crossbuck.
•Always remember a train can take a mile or more to stop.
•Always know that the average train is three feet wider than the track on each side.
•Always slow down and stop your vehicle prior to train tracks when lights begin to flash.
Driving Near Tracks
•The train you see is closer & faster-moving than you think.
•Be aware that trains cannot stop quickly.
•Never drive around lowered gates; it's illegal & deadly.
•Do not get trapped on the tracks; proceed through a highway-rail grade crossing only if you are sure you can completely clear the crossing without stopping.
•If your vehicle ever stalls on the tracks, get out & get away from the tracks, even if you do not see a train. Locate the Emergency Notification System sign & call the number provided, telling them about the stalled vehicle.
•At a multiple track crossing waiting for a train to pass, watch out for a 2nd train on the other tracks, approaching from either direction.
•When you need to cross train tracks, go to a designated crossing, look both ways, & cross the tracks quickly, without stopping. Remember it isn't safe to stop closer than 15ft from a rail.
•ALWAYS EXPECT A TRAIN! Freight trains do not follow set schedules.
Passenger Rail Safety Tips
•STAY ALERT! Trains can come from either direction at any time and can be very quiet. Around train tracks/stations, obey all warning signs & signals and use caution when using headsets/phones.
•WATCH THE OVERHANG! Trains are wider than the tracks; never sit on the edge of a station platform.
•STAND AWAY FROM THE PLATFORM EDGE! Pay attention to painted/raised markings at the platform edge, and stay at least 3ft from the train while it is coming in/out of the station.
•WHEN ON BOARD, HOLD ON! Hold on tight to poles/seats, and listen carefully to directions from the train operator/conductor.
•WATCH YOUR STEP! Be careful getting on and off the train; there may be a gap between the train, platform, or steps.
•DON'T TAKE SHORTCUTS WITH YOUR LIFE! Follow directional signs & markings that let you know where it is safe to cross the tracks. Crossing the tracks anywhere else is dangerous & illegal.