TERRELL, Texas — Union Pacific Police and Terrell Police Department will conduct railroad crossing enforcement efforts on Thursday morning in Terrell as part of the Union Pacific's Crossing Accident Reduction Education and Safety (UP CARES) program.
TERRELL, Texas — Union Pacific Police and Terrell Police Department will conduct railroad crossing enforcement efforts on Thursday morning in Terrell as part of the Union Pacific's Crossing Accident Reduction Education and Safety (UP CARES) program.
Beginning at 8 a.m., today, Officers will begin riding inside a Union Pacific locomotive as it passes back and forth between several railroad crossings in between State Highway (SH) 34 and Farm-to-Market (FM) 148 in Terrell. The onboard officers will observe motorist behavior at railroad crossings and dispatch nearby positioned officers if motorist ignore signal arms and warnings. Additionally, according to a Union Pacific representative, officers will be looking for pedestrians crossing or walking on the tracks.
"This is a joint operation, combining efforts and resources from the Terrell Police Department and Union Pacific Police," stated Union Pacific spokesperson Jeff DeGraff.
DeGraff says freight trains traveling at 55 miles per hour take more than a mile to stop which is why drivers are urged to stop in designated areas when railroad signals, flashers, and gates indicate a train is approaching.
The UP CARES program is aimed at bringing together communities in a collaborative and caring effort to promote railroad crossing and pedestrian safety.