The Rail Auxiliary Team is a force multiplier that provides the railroad and local law enforcement with trained eyes and ears specifically focused on the railroad's critical infrastructure. The team will provide time-critical, accurate and effective reporting to the railroad emergency response center and local law enforcement on any reportable situation on the tracks from a safe environment off of railroad property.
Why Join the Team?
Are you interested in trains? Do you enjoy being outdoors? Do you want to serve your community in a unique way? If you answered, "Yes" to any of these questions, then the Rail Auxiliary Team is for you!
When learning about railroads, you will begin to understand the lack of knowledge that the general public has when it comes to trains, crossings and the situational awareness needed around trains. From transients riding in railcars, to people taking pictures on the tracks, to driver's making poor choices at rail crossings, you will learn about the impact you can make in preventing the preventable train vs. vehicle/pedestrian incidents.
Do you want to make an impact? Then this team is for you!
How To Become a Team Member?
The Rail Auxiliary Academy will provide you with eight hours of rail specific training:
- Basic Railroading
- Suicide Awareness
- Worldwide Rail Terrorism Awareness
- Reporting Procedures
The eight hours of training is held online Monday evenings over the course of six weeks several times a year. Also, there is an in-person academy on a Saturday, approximately four times a year.
For more information on the Rail Auxiliary Team Academy, fill out our Contact form.
What Do Team Members Do?
Along with providing rail safety training, the Team puts additional eyes and ears along the rail lines, where Team members are able to report suspicious activity such as trespassers, graffiti, or objects on or around the rails as well as reporting any hazards that might interfere with safe railway operations.
Members are trained as to what to look for and how to report the incident to the rail authority.
Rail Auxiliary Team members are able to observe tracks as they go about their daily routine - driving to work, shopping, appointments, etc. Also, many members set aside specific times during the week to venture out to what we call "hot spots", where frequent trespassing occurs, and report anything that could be hazardous to train traffic or individuals.