photo by Tim Brown
From WMATA:
“More than a hundred fire and emergency personnel will converge on the new Ashburn Station on the Silver Line Extension as part of a full-scale emergency drill Wednesday, August 17.
Metro is conducting the exercise in coordination with Fairfax County, Loudoun County and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) as part of preparations for the opening of the Silver Line Extension expected later this fall.
The training exercise will begin at 8 a.m. and run through noon to help familiarize first responders with Metro’s trains and rail system. During the exercise Metro will simulate a real-life emergency with a train stranded outside the Ashburn Station. People in the area may see a large emergency response at the station, including several fire trucks and ambulances; however, this is just an exercise.
As part of the exercise, first responders will focus on their emergency response, communication, command structure, station familiarization, track and railcar access and evacuation procedures. Metro’s bus, rail, police and safety staff will also take part in the exercise.”