Norfolk Southern earns TRANSCAER national award for transportation emergency response training in 2025

Norfolk Southern has earned the 2025 National Achievement Award from Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response (TRANSCAER®) for its efforts to help communities prepare for and respond to rail-related emergencies.

The recognition highlights Norfolk Southern’s long-standing focus on emergency preparedness, rail safety and hands-on, practical training for first responders in communities across its network.

Each year, Norfolk Southern trains an average of more than 5,000 first responders, helping equip emergency personnel with the information and experience needed to respond safely around rail operations. Training opportunities include classroom sessions, hands-on training aboard the NS Safety Train, table-top exercises, and full-scale drills for fire and police departments, rescue teams, emergency medical organizations and other response agencies.

Norfolk Southern’s 2025 efforts included 83 in-person training events, drills and exercises. Between in-person events, webinars and online learning, Norfolk Southern reached nearly 6,000 participants last year.

"We are incredibly grateful for Norfolk Southern’s continued partnership and leadership in advancing the TRANSCAER mission, as well as their ongoing commitment to training, collaboration, and community preparedness," TRANSCAER said in announcing the award.

"We’re grateful for all of the first responders who took the time to participate in training with us throughout 2025,” said NS Director Hazardous Materials Robert Wood. Not only do first responders gain real-world experience with rail equipment and emergency scenarios, but we gain stronger relationships with the people who protect the communities we serve. When an incident happens, familiarity and trust matter, and these trainings help ensure we are building that with partners across our network."