Manassas Police Partner With Amtrak On Rail Safety Program

MANASSAS, VA — The Manassas City Police Department will be participating in “Operation Clear Track” next week to help reduce the number of railroad crossing and trespassing incidents. The police department will partner with the Amtrak Police Department and Operation Lifesaver on the Rail Safety Week event from Sept. 21-27.

The police departments and railroads are aiming to reduce incidents on railroad tracks that seriously injure or kill more than 2,100 people in the U.S. and Canada each year.

Railway safety information will be posted throughout the week on the Manassas City Police Department’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

• Railroad safety tips include:
• 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.
• Only drive across tracks if you know you can get all the way across.
• Remember a train can take a mile or more to stop.
• Slow down and stop your vehicle prior to the train track when lights begin to flash.

People will often walk on the railroad tracks to save time. Manassas is served by Norfolk Southern, Amtrak and the Virginia Railway Express.