Rail safety starts with knowing what to do before the moment arrives.
Find official safety guides, classroom materials, professional-driver information, first-responder training, crossing tools, community resources, and LA&L policies in one searchable library.
Use this page to find the right material for the audience and situation.
The main Safety page explains LA&L's safety commitment and program structure. Emergency Information explains what to do during an active incident. Rail Crossing FAQs answer routine public questions.
This page serves a different purpose: it organizes trusted external materials, training, tools, and LA&L requirements so visitors can quickly locate the right resource.
The essentials apply to every audience.
Training materials may be audience-specific, but the core expectations remain the same.
Always expect a train
Trains can operate at any time, on any track, and in either direction.
Cross only where authorized
Use designated public crossings and obey every sign, light, gate, and instruction.
Stay off railroad property
Tracks, bridges, tunnels, yards, equipment, and right-of-way are private operating environments.
Use the correct emergency channel
Call 911 for life-threatening danger and use the blue-and-white ENS sign to contact the railroad.
Different roles encounter different railroad risks.
Select an audience to see the resources most relevant to that group's decisions and responsibilities.
Recognize the crossing, eliminate distractions, and never enter without room to clear.
Resources cover active and passive crossings, stalled vehicles, pedestrian and bicycle movement, multiple tracks, trespass prevention, and ENS signs.
Turn rail safety into age-appropriate instruction—not a one-time warning.
Teachers, driver educators, school-bus programs, youth organizations, and families can use classroom materials, activities, and live presentations.
Vehicle length, ground clearance, route planning, and required stops change the crossing decision.
Commercial drivers, school-bus operators, farmers, contractors, and equipment operators need guidance tailored to longer, heavier, lower, and regulated vehicles.
Railroad incidents require railroad-specific coordination and training.
Responders and agencies should understand active-track protection, ENS signs, crossing identification, railroad notification, scene control, and prevention tools.
Move beyond a link when the audience needs structured instruction.
Operation Lifesaver provides free public presentations and railroad-specific first-responder training. Scheduling is managed by Operation Lifesaver and its authorized network.
Find the right guide, tool, training, or policy.
Search by topic or filter by audience. External resources open on official Operation Lifesaver or FRA websites.
Railroad Emergency Information
Immediate public guidance for injury, fire, a vehicle on the tracks, an obstruction, or another urgent railroad situation.
Open Resource →Rail Crossing FAQs
Search answers about gates, flashing lights, stalled vehicles, pedestrians, quiet zones, blocked crossings, and professional drivers.
Open Resource →Safety & Training
Review LA&L safety culture, training expectations, contractor coordination, community awareness, and related programs.
Open Resource →Contractor / Vendor Orientation
Required information for third parties working on or near railroad property, including access, insurance, and protection requirements.
Open Resource →Visitor & Photography Policy
Understand advance permission, escort requirements, property restrictions, and safe photography expectations.
Open Resource →Track Safety Basics
Ten foundational principles covering train schedules, stopping distance, private property, clearances, and designated crossings.
Open Resource ↗Driving Safely Near Tracks
Crossing approach, warning devices, entrapment prevention, and stalled-vehicle guidance.
Open Resource ↗Walking Safely Near Tracks
Pedestrian, bicyclist, mobility-device, jogger, student, and trespass-prevention guidance.
Open Resource ↗New Driver Resources
Rail-crossing lessons and awareness materials for inexperienced and student drivers.
Open Resource ↗School Bus Driver Safety
Specialized crossing guidance for school bus drivers and pupil-transportation professionals.
Open Resource ↗Truckers & Professional Drivers
Crossing preparation for long vehicles, low-clearance equipment, regulated loads, and commercial operations.
Open Resource ↗Farmers & Farm-Machine Operators
Route planning and crossing guidance for tractors, implements, low-clearance equipment, and long agricultural combinations.
Open Resource ↗Photographer & Filmmaker Safety
Why tracks and railroad property are not safe or lawful locations for portraits, productions, or social content.
Open Resource ↗Teacher Resources
Classroom-focused rail-safety information and materials for educators and youth programs.
Open Resource ↗Rail Safety for Kids
Age-appropriate activities and safety messages for children and families.
Open Resource ↗Operation Lifesaver Materials Library
Browse current brochures, posters, lesson materials, videos, campaign assets, and audience-specific resources.
Open Resource ↗Request a Free Safety Presentation
Request an authorized Operation Lifesaver presentation for a school, class, business, civic group, or public agency.
Open Resource ↗First Responder Safety Resources
Railroad-scene safety information, ENS guidance, brochures, training pathways, and response tools.
Open Resource ↗Railroad Investigation & Safety Course
Overview of railroad-specific RISC training for law enforcement and emergency personnel.
Open Resource ↗Schedule Free RISC Law-Enforcement Training
Request Basic, Intermediate, or Advanced railroad incident and investigation training.
Open Resource ↗Schedule Free RISC Firefighter Training
Request railroad incident and on-scene safety training developed for fire-service personnel.
Open Resource ↗FRA Crossing Safety & Trespass Prevention Hub
Federal crossing-safety, trespass-prevention, research, education, data, tools, and program resources.
Open Resource ↗Emergency Notification System Information
Federal guidance on the blue-and-white ENS sign, railroad emergency number, and U.S. DOT crossing ID.
Open Resource ↗Rail Crossing Locator
Locate public crossings and review available crossing-identification and inventory information.
Open Resource ↗Blocked Crossing Incident Reporter
Submit a non-emergency report about a recent recurring or extended blocked crossing.
Open Resource ↗Trespass & Suicide Prevention Toolkit
Explore community strategies and countermeasures for railroad trespass and suicide prevention.
Open Resource ↗Safety information is separated by purpose.
These pages work together without forcing one page to serve every audience or situation.
Safety & Training
The main overview of LA&L safety culture, training expectations, and program structure.
Open Safety Page →Emergency Information
Immediate public actions for a vehicle on the tracks, injury, fire, collision, obstruction, or urgent hazard.
Open Emergency Page →Rail Crossing FAQs
Routine questions about crossings, signals, pedestrians, professional vehicles, quiet zones, and reporting.
Search the FAQs →Access & Property Rules
Contractor orientation and visitor or photography requirements for entering or working near railroad property.
Contractor Orientation →Need a resource for a specific audience—or help planning authorized work near the railroad?
Contact LA&L for non-emergency safety questions, contractor coordination, community outreach, or the appropriate railroad contact. For a free public presentation, submit a request directly through Operation Lifesaver.