$10,000 reward offered in investigation of Amtrak shop fire
Amtrak and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and successful prosecution of the person or persons responsible for the May 2 fire at Amtrak’s Beech Grove (Ind.) Heavy Maintenance Facility, WXIN-TV reports. The fire destroyed two storage sheds, used to store paint and cleaning supplies, and caused more than $650,000 damage. No one was injured [see “Digest: Beech Grove fire was intentionally set …,” Trains News Wire, May 7, 2021]. Because the fire was at a government-owned facility, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is involved, along with the U.S ATF, Amtrak police, and local police and fire agencies.
UP, Safe Kids Worldwide launch new safety efforts
Safe Kids Worldwide and Union Pacific have announced a new initiative to educate families about rail safety and prevent rail-related deaths and injuries. The new programs, including a public safety awareness campaign for parents to talk to their children and a digital toolkit for educatures, advocates, and others, builds on a 3-year-old partnership between the railroad and the safety group [see “Event promotes child safety …,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 2, 2019]. “We are committed to continuing our work with Safe Kids Worldwide as we make progress together in keeping children and communities across the country safe,” Scott Moore, president of the Union Pacific Foundation and the railroad’s senior vice president, corporate relations, and chief administrative officer, said in a press release. That release also includes more information about the new program. More information is also available at the Safe Kids Worldwide website.
Michigan state legislator offers bills for grade-crossing separation projects
Michigan state Sen. Dale Zorn (R-Ida, Mich.) has reintroduced legislation to create a state program providing matching funds for communities and railroads interested in grade-crossing separation projects. Senate Bill 425 would help fund overpasses or underpasses, while SB 426 would create a scoring system to determine which projects to fund and SB 427 would create the Local Grade Separation Fund. “The goal of these measures is to help local government and the railroad industry work together to solve these long-standing safety and economic issues,” Zorn said in a press release.
