Metrorail Emergencies Flashcards
What is a short section of third rail found just beyond some station platforms used to ensure uniform train acceleration?
Accelerator rail (kicker rail)
These rooms are found in all Metro stations, they receive electricity from the utility company and distribute it for station and rail roadway use.
AC switchboard room
How often are chain marker signs displayed?
100 feet
What does a chain marker sign denote?
Distance in feet from the HUB
How many collector shoes (paddles) are there per rail car?
4 shoes per car
What is it called when a train uses kinetic energy from train movement generating current at the traction motors and it is then dissipated by the resistor grids?
Dynamic braking
Under what seats are the emergency evacuation kits located in every car?
Right, rear, double sided seat
What is the max distance to an emergency exit?
1,250 feet
Blue light stations are located approximately how far from each other along the rail roadway and from the station
800 feet
What is a device that converts battery power to AC energy?
Inverter
What is the process called when moving a rail car away from the platform to free a trapped victim?
Lateral jacking
Which series metrorail cars is, at a minimum, a four-car consist?
7000 series
What is the acronym for a battery-operated vehicle used for rail transportation of emergency response or WMATA personnel and equipment?
MERV (mobile emergency response vehicle)
What is the name for the terminus for automatic train control information, trouble alarms, and radio transmissions?
Rail Operations Control Center (ROCC)
What is the procedure called of removing third rail power by physically disengaging large circuit breakers in Traction Power Substations and/or Tie Breaker stations?
Red Tag Third Rail Power Removal
What is the name of steel rail that has been manufactured or welded in lengths of up to one half mile or more which has a tendency to recoil to its designed position if broken?
Ribbon rail
Approximately how many volts are in the third rail used to power the trains?
750 volts DC
How many metro stations are there in Northern Virginia?
25 stations
Which Metro line shares a common corridor with the CSXT Railroad?
Blue line (J line)
Which Metro line shares a common corridor with I66?
Orange line (K line)
Which Metro rail car series are modified for revenue handling?
8000 series
What is the length, width, and height of a Metro car?
75’ long, 10’ tall, 10’ wide
What is the maximum number of rail cars in a consist?
8
How are Metro rail cars identified and numbered?
They are either A or B cars. A cars have even numbers, B cars have odd numbers
What is the maximum length of a station platform?
600 feet
What is the floor of a Metro rail car made of?
Two sheets of stainless steel with ¾-inch plywood and insulation in between
How many door panels does each rail car have?
14 door panels
Which way do bulkhead doors open?
Inward
When opening bulkhead doors with the XX barrel key, it is necessary to ensure the top and bottom deadbolt door handles are in what position?
Vertical
How are Metro car doors numbered?
Starting directly behind the operator’s cab, door panels are numbered 1-6, the opposite side is numbers 7-12
Which doors can be opened from the outside with the use of the XX barrel key on the Metro key ring?
Doors numbered 2, 8, and 9
Which doors can passengers and emergency crews open by using the manual pull handles?
The center doors, 3 and 9
Which doors can be opened using the Emergency External Door Release (EEDR)?
1000-6000 series cars doors 4 and 9, 7000 series cars doors 3 and 10
What color is the self-evacuation door release handle?
Orange
How many fire extinguishers are on each rail car and where are they located?
Two extinguishers, one in operators cab the other under the last seat opposite the operators cab near the rear bulkhead door where the A and B cars are coupled
What size dry chemical extinguisher is on each rail car?
4A-60BC extinguisher
How many communications systems are in each rail car and what are they?
Two, intercoms and metro radios
What are the three types of stations within the Metrorail system?
Aerial or elevated, surface or at-grade, and subsurface or underground
What are the different types of station platforms within the Metrorail system?
Side-load platform center track, center load platform side-track, split platform multiple level, or combination
What are the approximate dimensions of each station platform?
60’ wide by 600’ long
What are the three distinct types of electrical systems within the Metrorail system?
Traction power, AC power, and battery power
What is the battery power used for?
Emergency lighting and communications during power outage
What room has restricted access and FRD personnel must contact Metro for access even in the event of an emergency? Why?
AC switchboard room because of high voltage 34,500 volts (Dominion Virginia Power)
At what percentage is emergency lighting as compared to normal lighting?
25%, every fourth light in the tunnel
What is the fire rating of the Metro stations?
2 hour rating, non-combustible material
At what intervals are FDC hose valves located in Metro tunnels and under the station platforms?
200’ intervals
What are the two types of sprinkler systems found within the Metro system?
Wet pipe and deluge, deluge systems are found under escalators
How long does a station manager have to react to a fire alarm before the Automatic Public Address Announcement System (APAAS) in-bound escalators stop and PA announcement is made?
2 minutes
How does normal ventilation occur in the Metro tunnels and underground stations?
Train movement and mechanical fans
What are the two modes of mechanical ventilation during emergency conditions?
Supply mode or exhaust mode depending upon need
The primary method of air-exchange in the Metro tunnels is through train movement, what is this called?
The piston effect
Who assumes control of the fans during an emergency?
The IC
What are the four settings of the ventilation fans?
Emergency exhaust, Emergency supply, Automatic operation, and Off
When activation is requested, how long does it take for the fans to start?
40-60 seconds
Where are the Knox Rapid Entry Key Boxes located at each Metro station?
On the first flat wall to the right of the main entrance after the entry gate
If a key is not available to access the entry gate, what should FRD personnel do to gain access to the Knox Box?
Cut the chain link closest to the lock, do not cut the lock
What are the two normal means and two emergency means to evacuate each Metro station?
Entrance escalators or rail cars, and emergency exit shaft and vent shaft
Wayside phones are found in the Emergency Trip Switch (blue light, ETS) boxes located along the Rail Roadway at intervals of how many feet?
800 feet
What number do you press on a Metro wayside phone to be connected to ROCC?
0
What cell phone service provider is compatible for use in underground Metro tunnels?
Verizon Wireless
ROCC controls all Metro conference lines, up to how many callers can the conference line accept?
10 callers
Each cell phone reduces the maximum number of callers on the Metro conference line by how many?
3
What the blue light boxes contain?
Wayside telephone to communicate with the ROCC, Emergency Trip Button (red button) to deactivate third rail power. and a power removal map.
When should the red mushroom button inside the ETS be pushed?
When there is an imminent threat to life safety
Chain markers are located every ___ along the Rail Roadway.
100 feet. Starting from a center point or hub station.
The last resort for passenger evacuation for either Rail Roadway, aerial, or tunnel is what?
Discharging passengers in the rail roadway, onto an aerial roadway, or into the tunnel. During which the 3rd rail must be deenergized
All personnel shall wear and carry what prior to operating anywhere in the Metro system?
Reflective gear and carry a handlight.
How far apart should flaggers be on metro incidents?
750 feet
WSAD shall be placed no greater than what from the incident
500 feet
What is the minimum resources assigned to an EMS incident in the RRW?
1 Transport unit, 1 Engine, 1 Truck, 1 Rescue, 1BC, 1EMS Sup
Should the location of the incident be in RRW or track bed, who shall establish command?
First arriving officer
What is the minimum compliment assigned to a structure fire or railcar fire, collision, derailment ( both below and above grade) ?
5 Engines
2 Trucks
2 EMS
2Rescues
2 BC
1 Safety officer/command aide
1 Tech Rescue
1 EMS Sup
What is the primary responsibility for the first due Engine?
Conduct recon along with the 2nd Engine and 1st Truck
What info should the first due officer obtain from the senior Metrorail official?
Exact location and nature of the incident
Status of the 3rd rail
Status of the train movement
ETA of the Metro on-scene commander
Location of any and all required keys
Once the Recon group is given permission to the reported incident location the sit report shall include what?
Exact location via chain marker
Nature and severity of incident
Assistance required
Status of the third rail
Location of another access point if beneficial
The overall strategy for a Metro emergency can be organized into what 4 steps?
ACRE
Access
Control
Rescue
Evacuate/EMS
Every station standpipe connection has an ID plate that identifies what?
Shaft number, Maximum vertical drop, Maximal run of the piping.
Truck Co will most likely be concerned with what responsibilities
Safety supervision, ems, logistical and support functions
What are the flaggers distance on both metro and railroads
750 feet for metro and 2 miles for other railroad incidents
What is the standard railroad signal instructing the operator to stop?
Swing the lighted handlight or flare horizontally from side to side
What are the 2 basic types of rescue incidents that may occur at Metro?
Entrapment in machinery or entrapment involving trains
What is the ETEC?
The Emergency Tunnel Evacuation Cart is a nonmotorized device used to remove non ambulatory passengers from the site
What is a MERV?
Mobile Emergency Response Vehicle. It operates on railroad tracks and can only be used by metro.
