Train operator for the East of England, Greater Anglia, recently tested emergency responses to a major rail incident, as it hosted a significant two-day live exercise in Norwich.
The exercise, held on 9 and 10 July, involved more than 200 emergency service, rail, and disaster support staff, who attended Greater Anglia’s Crown Point depot and Carrow Road stadium.
It tested the plans and procedures of emergency service and rail industry organisations (including Greater Anglia) in the event of a major incident. In the scenario tested, a train had derailed after hitting a landslide. The incident had left the doors blocked and had injured the driver and many passengers on board.
A total of 40 volunteer actors played the parts of passengers on the train, which, for the exercise, was located in a segregated area of the depot. The actors were each given scenario cards with prompts about how to act, to make the situation as real as possible.
Some were even daubed with special make-up to make injuries, such as leg fractures and head wounds, look realistic for the emergency services to then treat as part of the training exercise.
British Transport Police, the East of England Ambulance Service, Norfolk Constabulary, and the Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service all took part, triaging, and evacuating passengers.
Colleagues from a number of rail industry bodies, including Network Rail and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, were present to offer advice and add to the realism.
The Rapid Relief Team, which is a non-profit organisation that provides welfare support to emergency services personnel attending major incidents, were also on hand to provide food and refreshments.
Volunteers acting as “passengers” for the exercise came from Greater Anglia, other train operating companies, the Rail Delivery Group, and the local community.
On 10 July, the company’s 40-strong voluntary humanitarian assistance team called the Incident Care Team, was also involved.
Their training allows them to respond to a major incident, such as a crash, and provide emotional and practical support in the following hours and days to those involved and their families.
Incident Care Team members from Network Rail’s Anglia region and c2c also attended the day to offer support and mutual aid in the intense four-hour exercise at Carrow Road stadium, which simulated a survivor reception centre. They were supported by the Local Resilience Forum and local council representatives.
Matt Wakefield, Greater Anglia’s Safety, Security and Sustainability Director, said:
“This mammoth two-day exercise was seven months in the making. Its sole aim was to test the joint response, communication, collaborative working, and emergency procedures of everyone involved in this major incident scenario.
“It is very important that we hold these exercises to test procedures so that, if the worst should ever happen, we are as fully prepared and practiced as possible. Of course, our first priority is to do everything possible to prevent such an event ever taking place, but it is important that we also prepare for such an eventuality. We’re grateful to everyone who took part.”
A number of colleagues from other rail industry bodies and train operating companies also attended to enhance knowledge and spread best practice across the railway.
Image and video credit: Greater Anglia
