As part of its ongoing commitment to safety, the South Shore Line announces that it is donating an out-of-service train car to the South Bend Fire Department Training Center to enhance rescue crew responses to railroad service emergencies.
The train car, which weighs approximately 134,000 pounds and stands 85’ long x 10’ wide x 15’ high, will be moved Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, via crane and flat-bed semi from the South Bend Washington Street train station to the South Bend Fire Department Training Center, 710 E Sample Street.
“We greatly appreciate the opportunity to partner with South Bend Fire Department to aid in the training of first responders,” said Michael Noland, President of the South Shore Line. “Although our safety record is excellent, we remain focused on passenger safety, and familiarizing first responders with our cars improves preparedness,” he added.
The training center currently trains first responders from all over Northern Indiana, including East Chicago, Michigan City, LaPorte and South Bend. In order to ensure the safest, most efficient responses, the crews will train on accessing the car and safely rescuing train passengers during crisis situations. Incidents of this nature may include derailments, fires, train/car collisions and other in-service emergencies.
Fire Chief Stephen Cox stated “the use of this train car will allow multiple agencies including police, fire and utility services to collaboratively work together in an emergency situation. The City of South Bend will serve as a central location for future multi-agency training scenarios.”
South Shore Freight, Cranemasters Inc., Rose Cartage Services Inc. and the South Shore Line will facilitate the train car move on Aug. 17. Local drivers should prepare for delays along the transport route, which is planned to begin around 10 a.m. ET at 2702 W. Washington St. The caravan will travel east on Washington Street, south on Lafayette Boulevard, east on Wayne Street/Jefferson Blvd, and south on Eddy Street/Sample Street. The entire trip should take approximately one hour.
Special thanks to others assisting in this project, including South Bend Fire Department, South Bend Police Department, the City of South Bend, and Railworks.
The South Shore Line is a commuter rail line operated by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) between Millennium Station in downtown Chicago and the South Bend International Airport in South Bend, Indiana.