It has been seven months since the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine. On Thursday morning the company, along with the Mayor of East Palestine, Trent Conaway and fire chief Keith Drabick, broke ground on the first permanent Norfolk Southern regional safety training center for first responders. Fulfilling a promise after the company's Feb. 3 train derailment.

The center will be located on Park Avenue and will span 15 acres. The site will be available to first responders from Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia to undergo essential training. Norfolk Southern Vice President of Safety, John Fleps told 21 News reporter Leslie Huff,  it will be a dynamic training environment for basic fire response with a specific focus on transportation emergencies.

"We will have a mock derailment site set up. We will be bringing in rail cars and have a scene that looks like something that they would encounter out in the field," Fleps said.

The center is expected to cost Norfolk Southern around $20 million. Felps said they will provide additional equipment to first responders for any future disasters and committed to whatever needs local first responders have.

Officials hope to have the center under construction by the end of 2024.