SEPTA Talks Safety at Malvern Station, and Everywhere Else

Do not underestimate the danger of a railroad.

That was the underlying message of SEPTA officials who blanketed the region Wednesday, aka SEPTA Safety Awareness Day. During the morning commute hours, they met with and handed pamphlets to people using the station.

Their message to the general public: Don't cross or walk along railroad tracks on foot, stick to tunnels and bridges.

"Unfortunately, railroads separate neighborhoods," SEPTA Safety Officer Jim Bahn said.

And to rail passengers specifically: Don't run or jump to get to the train. Don't stand too close to the tracks. Trains can run 70 mph past a station, and climb to 120 mph between stations.

Sounds like commonsense advice, right? Tell that to the woman who ignored a barricade and came dangerously close to a speeding train during NBC-10's live report on the the new safety campaign. 

"If you see a train, it's too late for him to stop," Bob Lund, an engineer and manager, said. 

Lund and Bahn were joined by two transit police officers and two employee volunteers, Lou McCray, SEPTA's chief estimator, and Tony Bohara, director of track engineering.

The safety campaign has a focus on school-age children, who might not be aware just how dangerous trains can be, and how quickly and quietly they can arrive, Lund said.