MBTA Safety Department Emergency Response Exercise Quincy ...

MASSACHUSETTS BAY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
GOAL:
SAFETY DEPARTMENT
RED LINE EMERGENCY RESPONSE EXERCISE
QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS
MAY 23, 1999
The goal was for all participating agencies to target which aspects of the exercise they
would like to concentrate on and translate this focus into specific goals for their agency.
SCENARIO:
The Emergency Response Exercise simulated a collision between an MBTA Red Line
train and a Hi-Rail vehicle resulting in a fire at the point of impact. Twenty-five (25) to
thirty (30) injured, moulaged passengers were positioned throughout the train with
injuries of varying degrees of seriousness. The cause of the collision was the result of
a terrorist act whereby one (1) perpetrator intentionally tampered with a switch and
drove a hi-rail vehicle onto the rapid transit ROW, colliding with an oncoming Red Line
train.
SCOPE:
The exercise involved a simulated fire at the point of collision which was extinguished
by the first fire department responders. Fire department and EMS agencies from
several surrounding communities participated in rescuing victims from the train, treating
the injured on site, and transporting them to Quincy Hospital.
Both the MBTA and Quincy Police Departments conducted a comprehensive accident
investigation, as well as a full scale criminal investigation.
EXERCISE SAFETY PLAN:
An exercise safety staff separate from the emergency responders was in place during
the exercise to monitor safety. The staff was under the control of an overall Exercise
Controller who had the authority to stop the exercise at any time if he became aware
of an unsafe condition. Members of the Safety staff were identified by a distinctive
yellow smock.