It doesn’t happen very often, but Metro staffers have to know how to safely evacuate trains between stations. So safety officers spent part of yesterday demonstrating the procedure aboard a Red Line train at the Glenmont station.
“The safest place is to stay on the train until first responders come,” said Victor Size, a Metro safety officer. But evacuation procedures are posted beside the center doors on either side of every rail car.
An average of 700,000 people use the subway system each day, but very few ever have crossed from one car to the next or stepped down onto the oil-stained gravel that covers the track bed.
“Train evacuations should be the last resort; passengers are generally much safer in the train,” Mr. Size said.
The last Metrorail evacuation involved 46 persons aboard a Blue Line train on Jan. 20, 2003, when it derailed after leaving the elevated station serving Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Although catwalks running along the tracks are elevated and safety lighting in the tunnels is designed to last at least two hours, fixed objects located on the track bed pose constant tripping hazards. Those include sensors, switches and communications equipment.
“The third rail is hot and energized,” said Ron Bodmer, a Metro safety officer, pointing at the smooth cowling that covers the 750-volt rail that powers up to eight 175-passenger cars along at speeds of up to 59 mph.
Metro routinely trains police and fire personnel from jurisdictions along its 106 miles of tracks to work safely within the system during emergencies.
Officials said yesterday that under most circumstances, train operators would be available to lead passengers to safety if an evacuation is warranted. About 100 members of a Citizens Emergency Corps also have received the training.
Evacuees would be expected to head to the nearest of 86 stations. There are also marked emergency exit points along the system’s emergency walkways.
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