© RECOMMENDED EMERGENCY LI. S. Department PREPAREDNESS GUIDELINES cf Transportation Federal Railroad FOR PASSENGER TRAINS Administration Cffice of Research U.S. Department of Transportation aid Development Research and Special Programs Administration Washington, D.C. 20590 John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center Cambridge, MA02142-1093 DOT/FRA/ORD-93/24 Final Report This document is available to the DOT-VNTSC-FRA-93-23 December 1993 public through the National Technical Information Service, SpMngfield, VA 22161 NOTICE This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for its contents or use thereof. NOTICE The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers' names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of this report. NOTICE This document is advisory in nature. The recommended guidelines contained herein do not have the force and effect of law or regulation. REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send cooments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters ???0?-frirj?rServices. Directorateand to theforOfficeinformationof ManagementOperationsandIRudni.t,'paperworkand Reports, 1215PpdiirtionJeffersonProiPftDavis Highway..SuitefQ7m-0ia8V Washington.1204, Arlington.DC 20S03.VA 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED Final Report December 1993 January 1993 - November 1993 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS Recommended Emergency Preparedness Guidelines for Passenger Trains R4021/RR493 6. AUTKOR(S) Stephanie H. Markos 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION U.S. Department of Transportation REPORT NUMBER Research and Special Programs Administration DOT-VNTSC-FRA-93-23 John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center Kendall Square, Cambridge, HA 02142 SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSORING/MONITORING U.S. Department of Transportation AGENCY REPORT NUMBER Federal Railroad Administration DOT/FRA/ORD-93/24 Office of Research and Development Washington, D.C. 20590 11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 12a. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT 12b. DISTRIBUTION CUE This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161 13. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words) The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has recognized the need for intercity and commuter passenger train systems, regardless of the size of the system and type of service provided, to engage in careful, advance planning in order to respond effectively to emergencies. This advance planning should address emergency response procedures, training of system operating and other emergency response organization personnel, and the provision and use of emergency equipment. This document contains recommended guidelines designed to assist system operating and emergency response organization management in evaluating and modifying or supplementing their emergency response plans. The recommendations address guidelines relating to emergency plans, procedures, and training. In addition, guidelines for passenger train and facility features intended to (1) shorten emergency response time, (2) improve the effectiveness of evacuating passengers, and (3) minimize the effects of an emergency are presented. The information contained in this document is intended to assist passenger train system operators to assess, develop, docunent, and improve their emergency response capabilities and to coordinate these efforts with emergency response organizations in a manner that best protects the traveling public and system passenger trains and facilities. These recommendations provide a useful framework for these organizations to evaluate and, if necessary, modify or supplement their emergency preparedness plans and procedures, training, and passenger train and wayside facility equipment. Depending on the local operating environment, certain recommendations contained in this report may not be appropriate for particular passenger train system routes or operations. 14. SUBJECT TERMS emergency, emergency preparedness, emergency plan, 15. NUMBER OF PAGES Federal Railroad Administration, intercity rail passenger 216 trains, commuter rail, railroad safety, passenger train safety, railroad accidents, transportation, transportation safety, high IS. PRICE CODE speed ground transportation, system safety. 17. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 18. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 19. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 20. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT OF REPORT OF THIS PAGE OF ABSTRACT Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified NSN 7540-01-280-5500 Standard Form 298 (Rev. 2-89) Prescribed by ANSI Std. 239-18 298-102 PREFACE The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has recognized the need for intercity and commuter passenger train system operators to engage in careful advance planning to respond effectively to emergencies. This advance planning should address emergency response procedures, training of system operating and other emergency response organization personnel, and provision and use of emergency equipment. The overall safety record of conventional intercity and commuter passenger train operations has been very good. However, it is essential to plan ahead to minimize the consequences of emergencies that could occur. Moreover, many minor incidents could easily develop into life-threatening events if they are not addressed in a timely and effective manner. In addition, new intercity high speed guided ground transportation technologies being considered for U.S. operations possess unique characteristics which may affect the safety of passengers and personnel during emergencies. Regardless of the type of technology, size of the system, and type of service provided, passenger train system operators must develop and implement emergency preparedness programs that are appropriate for their train equipment, right-of-way structures and wayside facilities, and local operating conditions. The recommendations contained in this document are intended to assist passenger train system operating and emergency response organization management in evaluating and modifying or supplementing their emergency response plans. The recommendations address guidelines relating to emergency plans, procedures, and training. Guidelines for passenger train and facility features which are intended to shorten emergency response time, improve the effectiveness of evacuating passengers, and minimize the effects of an emergency are also presented. Depending on the local operating environment, certain recommendations contained in this report may not be appropriate for a particular passenger train system operator. iii/iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS These recommended guidelines were prepared under the sponsorship of the Federal Railroad Administration, (FRA), Office of Restearch and Development. The author wishes to thank Phillip Olekszyk, Office of Safety and Arne J. Bang, Office of Research and Development, FRA for their direction and guidance during the preparation of this document. Robert M. Dorer, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center; William 0'Sullivan, Office of Safety, FRA; and Gerald R. Deily and Thomas Schultz, Office of Research and Developnent, FRA; also provided valuable review and comments on the draft version of the guidelines. The author wishes to extend special appreciation to: Arthur Candenquist, Manager for Emergency Preparedness, Rob Ross, Manager, Safety Training, R. Stephen Strachan, Director of Operating Rules and Procedures, George P. Binns, Senior Director, Equipment Engineering and Edmond S. Moore, Viewliner Technical Program Manager, National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak); John D. Skinner, General Manager, Amtrak Metro-Link; Donald F. Teague, Executive Director of Safety, Long Island Railroad; William J. Mahoney, Director of Safety, Metro-North Commuter Railroad; Beverly A. Pomponio, Director of Safety, New Jersey Transit (NJT); Martha K. Gulick, Supervisor of Safety, Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation (PATH); Raymond Diggs, Sr., Director of Safety, and Fred c. Goodine, Manager of Safety Administration, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA); Jerome Kirzner, Director - Rail Services, and Alan DeMoss, Peninsula Corridor (California); Dennis S. Mogan, Director, Safety and Rules, and Daniel C. Taylor, Safety Officer, Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation (Metra); Edward F.X. Connally II, Director of Transportation, and Richard A. Mishefske, Chief of Security, Tri- County Commuter Rail Authority (Florida); David V. Nogar, Director of Train Services and Nonni Stermer, Maryland Rail Commuter (MARC) ; and David L. Andrus, Director of Safety, Port Authority Transit Corporation of Pennsylvania and New Jersey (PATCO); all of whom provided valuable insight into emergency preparedness from the passenger train system operator perspective, as well as review and comments on the draft guidelines. In addition, the author wishes to acknowledge the following EG&G Dynatrend,