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AAR's mobile app aims to bolster first-response efforts after dera


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#1 CNJRoss

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Posted 29 May 2015 - 05:42 AM

Railway Association of Canada news release:

 

Railways announce new mobile app to give Canadian first responders real-time dangerous goods information
 

May 28, 2015, OTTAWA — Canada’s railways are launching their new AskRail app, aimed at providing emergency responders with real-time information about a train’s rail-car contents in the event of an emergency.

 

Through AskRail's mobile interface, developed by the Association of American Railroads and its members, including CN and CP, emergency responders across North America will be able to see the contents of a railcar through a simple search, view railway emergency contact information, and reference resources to support incident response.

 

“We know that access to this information can help emergency responders at the outset of an incident to make informed decisions about how to respond to a rail emergency,” said Michael Bourque, President and CEO of the Railway Association of Canada. “This is just one more way that Canada’s railways are working with communities on emergency response training and preparation.”

 

Canadian railways already provide municipalities who request it with yearly aggregated information on the dangerous goods moving through their communities. But the AskRail app goes much further – giving emergency responders another tool to use in responding to a railway incident.

 

“AskRail is a step in the right direction,” said Paul Boissonneault, President of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs. “Instantly available, real-time information on what cars are carrying is an additional tool that will enhance our ability to protect our communities.”

 

As part of the initial roll-out, CN and CP have contacted emergency response departments across Canada to explain how the application works, and to invite them to sign up for access to it. To date, more than 1,700 North American emergency responders – the only parties eligible to use the mobile application – have enrolled. In addition, a French-language version of the app is being developed and will be launched later this year. CN will also provide a demonstration of the AskRail app during the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Annual General Meeting in Edmonton from June 4 to 8.

 

“FCM welcomes this additional emergency response tool that will enhance first-responder capabilities where equipment is compatible, and cellular networks allow,” said Brad Woodside, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Canada’s railways must have comprehensive Emergency Response Plans in place for all dangerous goods, to ensure an immediate and comprehensive response in the event of an incident. AskRail would supplement railway procedures to promptly provide first responders with information about the materials carried on the affected train (information that is carried in the locomotive cab) in the event of an emergency.

 

About the Railway Association of Canada
The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) represents more than 50 freight and passenger railway companies that move 75 million people and more than $280 billion worth of goods in Canada each year. As the voice of Canada’s railway industry, RAC advocates on behalf of its members and associate members to ensure that the rail sector remains globally competitive, sustainable, and most importantly, safe. Learn more at www.railcan.ca. Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.



#2 CNJRoss

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Posted 11 August 2015 - 09:16 AM

Progressive Railroading, July 2015:

 

AAR's mobile app aims to bolster first-response efforts after derailments

 

At the scene of a train derailment, a quick exchange of information between railroads and first responders is crucial. Emergency crews can more adequately assess the situation if they know which commodities the train was hauling — especially if those commodities happen to be hazardous.

 

At least, that’s the line of thinking behind the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) AskRail™ app, which enables first responders to use their smartphones to retrieve data about the contents of each rail car involved in a derailment.

 

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#3 CNJRoss

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Posted 30 December 2015 - 09:11 PM

CN news release:

1,500 first responders across CN network sign up for AskRail mobile app to access real-time rail car information

 

More than 1,000 in Canada using emergency response tool

 

 

MONTREAL, Dec. 18, 2015 /CNW/ - CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) announced today that more than 1,500 first responders along its rail network have downloaded the AskRail mobile app to access real-time information about the contents of rail cars in their communities.

 

As of this month, more than 1,000 firefighters, emergency response managers and police officers in Canada have signed up for AskRail, plus nearly 500 from communities in the United States along CN's network.

 

Through AskRail's mobile interface, emergency responders – the only parties eligible to use this mobile application – can view railcar content through a simple search. The app, developed by the Association of American Railroads of which CN is a member, also can provide railway emergency contact information and reference resources to support incident response.

 

"AskRail provides relevant information to emergency responders at the outset of an incident, which helps them make better informed decisions about how to respond effectively to a rail emergency," said Sam Berrada, CN vice-president of safety and sustainability. "CN continues to encourage first responders to download this important tool on their mobile devices."

 

First responders along CN's network can get more information at www.askrail.us and can request the app, in English or French, by emailing CN at askrail@cn.ca.



#4 CNJRoss

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Posted 23 November 2017 - 07:27 PM

The Patriot-News, Mechanicsburg, PA 11/21/17:
 

Here's how new rail technology is helping first responders | Opinion

 

 

Last week, first responders from across the commonwealth gathered for the Pennsylvania Fire Safety Summit in Harrisburg.

 

SNIP

 

Technology can provide first responders with data that enables us to make critical decisions as quickly and safely as possible, making sure we can protect both our communities and ourselves.

 

Particularly helpful for those of us in Pennsylvania, where freight rail operates over 5,165 miles of track and drives our economy, is a mobile app developed by the rail industry in partnership with the International Association of Fire Chiefs called AskRail, that can put crucial to-the-second information in the hands of emergency personnel on the scene of a rail incident.

 

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#5 CNJRoss

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Posted 21 December 2017 - 08:26 PM

GCN 12/20/17:
 

 

 

askrail.png

 

Full service app for railroad emergency response

 

 

When a train accident in Charlottesville, Va., almost 40 years ago resulted in a dangerous fire, it took firefighters some 12 hours to figure out whether the railcars were carrying hazardous materials. Today, they would know in minutes using AskRail.

 

Launched in 2014, AskRail is a mobile app developed by the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the Association of American Railroads (AAR) that’s available for free to first responders who need to know what to expect at the scene of a train incident. Users enter railcar numbers into the app’s search engine to instantly see what’s onboard. They can also check what’s on the entire train, get guidance on handling hazardous substances and call emergency contacts for various railroads.

 

“Before I would have had to look at all different resources,” said Charles Werner, a 37-year veteran of the Charlottesville Fire Department who now serves on the boards of the International Association of Fire Chiefs Technology Council, AAR’s Public Safety Advisory Committee and the National Alliance for Public Safety GIS Foundation. “We’re able now to get a good idea of what’s on the train and what’s on the individual cars without really having to be in visual line of sight. We can already get some kind of idea of what the train consists of before we take any action. That’s a huge difference from where we used to be.”

 

 

That means fire chiefs and other public-safety personnel can start planning their response before they’re even on the scene, saving time and keeping responders safer, he added.

 

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