Norfolk Southern Resumes Development of Firefighter Training Center Close to Ohio Derailment Location

Norfolk Southern railroad has joined forces with the state of Ohio and Youngstown State University to bring to life a $20 million first responder training center. This initiative is located near the site of the worst derailment in a decade in East Palestine, Ohio.

The idea for a training center emerged swiftly after the catastrophic derailment on February 3, 2023, which led to the evacuation of approximately half of the small town near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. The incident raised significant concerns among residents about potential long-term health effects.

Initially, Norfolk Southern announced in January that East Palestine officials had agreed to abandon the training center project as part of a $22 million settlement. The decision was influenced by worries regarding ongoing operational costs. In a gesture of goodwill, the railroad even offered 15 acres of land, originally intended for the center, back to the town.

However, the plan has since been revived. Norfolk Southern is now collaborating with Youngstown State to construct and manage the training center, which aims to equip first responders with the skills necessary to handle the unique challenges posed by train derailments, particularly those involving hazardous materials. In the East Palestine incident, the derailed train cars burned for several days, prompting officials to blow open five tank cars filled with vinyl chloride due to fears of potential explosions.

“By working together, we’ve turned this vision of an economic and educational center dedicated to enhancing community safety into a sustainable reality,” stated railroad CEO Mark George.

Norfolk Southern has committed over $135 million to assist the town’s recovery from the derailment and has agreed to a $600 million class-action settlement with residents. However, these settlement payments are currently on hold due to a pending appeal and complications with the initial company responsible for distributing checks.

Local first responders in East Palestine will have free access to training at the new facility. Mayor Trent Conaway emphasized that this initiative will “better prepare them to serve our village and the communities in our region.”

Photo: In this photo provided by Melissa Smith, a train fire is seen from her farm in East Palestine, Ohio, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. A train derailment and resulting large fire prompted an evacuation order in the Ohio village near the Pennsylvania state line on Friday night, covering the area in billows of smoke lit orange by the flames below. (Melissa Smith via AP)

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics
Training Development
Ohio

Norfolk Southern railroad has joined forces with the state of Ohio and Youngstown State University to bring to life a $20 million first responder training center. This initiative is located near the site of the worst derailment in a decade in East Palestine, Ohio.

The idea for a training center emerged swiftly after the catastrophic derailment on February 3, 2023, which led to the evacuation of approximately half of the small town near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. The incident raised significant concerns among residents about potential long-term health effects.

Initially, Norfolk Southern announced in January that East Palestine officials had agreed to abandon the training center project as part of a $22 million settlement. The decision was influenced by worries regarding ongoing operational costs. In a gesture of goodwill, the railroad even offered 15 acres of land, originally intended for the center, back to the town.

However, the plan has since been revived. Norfolk Southern is now collaborating with Youngstown State to construct and manage the training center, which aims to equip first responders with the skills necessary to handle the unique challenges posed by train derailments, particularly those involving hazardous materials. In the East Palestine incident, the derailed train cars burned for several days, prompting officials to blow open five tank cars filled with vinyl chloride due to fears of potential explosions.

“By working together, we’ve turned this vision of an economic and educational center dedicated to enhancing community safety into a sustainable reality,” stated railroad CEO Mark George.

Norfolk Southern has committed over $135 million to assist the town’s recovery from the derailment and has agreed to a $600 million class-action settlement with residents. However, these settlement payments are currently on hold due to a pending appeal and complications with the initial company responsible for distributing checks.

Local first responders in East Palestine will have free access to training at the new facility. Mayor Trent Conaway emphasized that this initiative will “better prepare them to serve our village and the communities in our region.”

Photo: In this photo provided by Melissa Smith, a train fire is seen from her farm in East Palestine, Ohio, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. A train derailment and resulting large fire prompted an evacuation order in the Ohio village near the Pennsylvania state line on Friday night, covering the area in billows of smoke lit orange by the flames below. (Melissa Smith via AP)

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics
Training Development
Ohio