Hey Houston families! 🚂 Between the freight lines cutting through the East End, the tracks along Washington Ave, and METRORail gliding down Main Street, trains are part of everyday life in the heart of Houston. And our little ones LOVE them (hello, toddler train obsession 🙋♀️). Bonus: these same habits are great reminders around light rail, too! That's exactly why rail safety is worth a quick family chat. Union Pacific and Operation Lifesaver recently shared four simple habits for See Tracks? Think Train® Week, and honestly, these are good reminders for all of us, not just one week a year. Here's the good news first: according to Federal Railroad Administration data, 2025 was the safest year on record for U.S. railroads. Union Pacific also had its best-ever year for personal injury and derailment rates, improving 24% and 19% over the year before. Railroads are doing their part, and we can do ours too! Watch this one together with your kiddos! It takes just a few minutes and opens the door to a great conversation. 1. Always Expect a TrainA track can be active even when you don't see a train coming. Tracks run right alongside our neighborhoods, schools, shopping centers and roads. Even if you cross the same tracks every single day, treat every track like a train could be coming. Because it could!
2. Stay Alert and Follow Crossing SignalsAlways obey signs, flashing lights and gates. Never try to beat a train or go around a lowered gate. Trains are closer and faster than they look, and they can't stop quickly. Whether you're walking, biking or driving, only cross at designated public crossings. Wait until the gates are all the way up and the lights stop flashing, then look both ways before going. Drivers, leave enough room for your car to fully clear the other side of the tracks before you go.
3. Keep Off Railroad Tracks and PropertyTracks are not a shortcut, a play spot or a photo backdrop (we know those track photos look cute, but they're not worth the risk!). Railroad property is private property, and tracks are active. Trains are also wider than the rails, so standing "next to" the tracks can still put someone way too close. The same goes for rail yards, bridges and other railroad areas. Stick to designated areas only.
4. Know What to Do in an EmergencySee the blue and white Emergency Notification System (ENS) sign at the crossing? It has a phone number and the crossing's U.S. DOT number to report a rail emergency, which helps the railroad respond fast. Every crossing has one! For medical emergencies, always call 9-1-1.
Make Rail Safety an Everyday HabitRail safety is a team effort. Railroads keep investing in safer operations, and families can help by staying alert, using designated crossings and staying off railroad property. Whether you live near the tracks or only cross them now and then, a little awareness goes a long way. 💛
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