Local dignitaries and law enforcement officials were given the opportunity to witness firsthand some dangers associated with traversing the state’s rail system.Operation Lifesaver, a nationwide program dedicated to preventing injuries and deaths at highway-rail intersections, took 100 people from 29 jurisdictions on a train ride through Northeast Georgia.The passengers, from Hall, Gwinnett and Habersham counties, among others, were guided from Duluth to Toccoa and shown some real dangers.“The whole idea is to show law enforcement professionals and community leaders the importance of railroads in Georgia, but also how dangerous they can be,” said Harris Blackwood, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.According to the Federal Railroad Administration, between 2006 and 2011, there were 16 collisions involving trains in Hall County. Those collisions resulted in five injuries and one death.“The general public sometimes thinks that the tracks are public property,” said Jennie Glasgow, state coordinator for Operation Lifesaver. “They also don’t understand that trains can’t stop quickly.”She said trains can sometimes take more than a mile to stop completely.Capt. Keith Smith of the Gainesville Fire Department was along for the ride.