c2c Railway has strengthened its emergency preparedness after partnering with Essex County Fire and Rescue Service to carry out a full‑scale mock fire evacuation at Southend Central station earlier this month. The major exercise was designed to rigorously test local emergency procedures and enhance operational readiness for real‑world incidents.
The scenario began when smoke was reported coming from a basement room on station property, with three individuals believed to be trapped inside. The simulated emergency triggered the station fire alarm, a real‑time 999 call, the deployment of three fire crews, and the use of imitation smoke to replicate challenging conditions.
c2c station staff — including the station manager, ticket office team, gateline staff, and security personnel — responded swiftly. Their immediate actions included evacuating the station, overseeing its safe closure, and ensuring all customers and colleagues were accounted for at the designated assembly point.
Tony Parkin, c2c’s Fire Safety Manager, praised the professionalism of the team, saying:
“The safety of our customers and colleagues is of the utmost importance to us, and I am delighted with how the c2c team quickly and safely implemented our local emergency plans, while supporting Essex County Fire and Rescue Service throughout.
“The exercise provided a vital reminder of the important roles that each member of the c2c team has to play should a real-life emergency situation arise, and I know that the mock evacuation will give colleagues an even better understanding and added confidence if ever faced with a situation like this.”
Three fire engines from Southend and Hawkwell, carrying ten Essex firefighters, arrived within minutes of the emergency call. c2c expressed gratitude for the realism and professionalism the fire service brought to the exercise.
Tony Parkin added:
“I would like to thank Essex County Fire and Rescue Service who ensured the mock fire evacuation was realistic and executed in a professional manner.”
Marc Kyprianou, Watch Manager at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, highlighted the importance of joint training:
“The evacuation exercise allowed our command and control team to implement and review our planned response to a station fire, while working with the c2c team to gather information and carefully control the incident.
“It is also important for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service to build on existing relationships with partners such as c2c and the wider community, so they understand how we work and what will be expected of them in any real-life situation.”
This collaborative drill reinforces the ongoing commitment across the rail and emergency services sectors to continuously improve safety, resilience, and joint response capability.
Image and video credits: c2c
