Metrorail Emergencies

Question 1

What is a short section of third rail found just beyond some station platforms used to ensure uniform train acceleration?

Answer 1

Accelerator rail (kicker rail)

Question 2

These rooms are found in all Metro stations, they receive electricity from the utility company and distribute it for station and rail roadway use.

Answer 2

AC switchboard room

Question 3

How often are chain marker signs displayed?

Answer 3

100 feet

Question 4

What does a chain marker sign denote?

Answer 4

Distance in feet from the HUB

Question 5

How many collector shoes (paddles) are there per rail car?

Answer 5

4 shoes per car

Question 6

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?

Answer 6

Dynamic braking

Question 7

Under what seats are the emergency evacuation kits located in every car?

Answer 7

Right, rear, double sided seat

Question 8

What is the max distance to an emergency exit?

Answer 8

1,250 feet

Question 9

Blue light stations are located approximately how far from each other along the rail roadway and from the station

Answer 9

800 feet

Question 10

What is a device that converts battery power to AC energy?

Answer 10

Inverter

Question 11

What is the process called when moving a rail car away from the platform to free a trapped victim?

Answer 11

Lateral jacking

Question 12

Which series metrorail cars is, at a minimum, a four-car consist?

Answer 12

7000 series

Question 13

What is the acronym for a battery-operated vehicle used for rail transportation of emergency response or WMATA personnel and equipment?

Answer 13

MERV (mobile emergency response vehicle)

Question 14

What is the name for the terminus for automatic train control information, trouble alarms, and radio transmissions?

Answer 14

Rail Operations Control Center (ROCC)

Question 15

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?

Answer 15

Red Tag Third Rail Power Removal

Question 16

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?

Answer 16

Ribbon rail

Question 17

Approximately how many volts are in the third rail used to power the trains?

Answer 17

750 volts DC

Question 18

How many metro stations are there in Northern Virginia?

Answer 18

25 stations

Question 19

Which Metro line shares a common corridor with the CSXT Railroad?

Answer 19

Blue line (J line)

Question 20

Which Metro line shares a common corridor with I66?

Answer 20

Orange line (K line)

Question 21

Which Metro rail car series are modified for revenue handling?

Answer 21

8000 series

Question 22

What is the length, width, and height of a Metro car?

Answer 22

75’ long, 10’ tall, 10’ wide

Question 23

What is the maximum number of rail cars in a consist?

Answer 23

8

Question 24

How are Metro rail cars identified and numbered?

Answer 24

They are either A or B cars. A cars have even numbers, B cars have odd numbers

Question 25

What is the maximum length of a station platform?

Answer 25

600 feet

Question 26

What is the floor of a Metro rail car made of?

Answer 26

Two sheets of stainless steel with ¾-inch plywood and insulation in between

Question 27

How many door panels does each rail car have?

Answer 27

14 door panels

Question 28

Which way do bulkhead doors open?

Answer 28

Inward

Question 29

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?

Answer 29

Vertical

Question 30

How are Metro car doors numbered?

Answer 30

Starting directly behind the operator’s cab, door panels are numbered 1-6, the opposite side is numbers 7-12

Question 31

Which doors can be opened from the outside with the use of the XX barrel key on the Metro key ring?

Answer 31

Doors numbered 2, 8, and 9

Question 32

Which doors can passengers and emergency crews open by using the manual pull handles?

Answer 32

The center doors, 3 and 9

Question 33

Which doors can be opened using the Emergency External Door Release (EEDR)?

Answer 33

1000-6000 series cars doors 4 and 9, 7000 series cars doors 3 and 10

Question 34

What color is the self-evacuation door release handle?

Answer 34

Orange

Question 35

How many fire extinguishers are on each rail car and where are they located?

Answer 35

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

Question 36

What size dry chemical extinguisher is on each rail car?

Answer 36

4A-60BC extinguisher

Question 37

How many communications systems are in each rail car and what are they?

Answer 37

Two, intercoms and metro radios

Question 38

What are the three types of stations within the Metrorail system?

Answer 38

Aerial or elevated, surface or at-grade, and subsurface or underground

Question 39

What are the different types of station platforms within the Metrorail system?

Answer 39

Side-load platform center track, center load platform side-track, split platform multiple level, or combination

Question 40

What are the approximate dimensions of each station platform?

Answer 40

60’ wide by 600’ long

Question 41

What are the three distinct types of electrical systems within the Metrorail system?

Answer 41

Traction power, AC power, and battery power

Question 42

What is the battery power used for?

Answer 42

Emergency lighting and communications during power outage

Question 43

What room has restricted access and FRD personnel must contact Metro for access even in the event of an emergency? Why?

Answer 43

AC switchboard room because of high voltage 34,500 volts (Dominion Virginia Power)

Question 44

At what percentage is emergency lighting as compared to normal lighting?

Answer 44

25%, every fourth light in the tunnel

Question 45

What is the fire rating of the Metro stations?

Answer 45

2 hour rating, non-combustible material

Question 46

At what intervals are FDC hose valves located in Metro tunnels and under the station platforms?

Answer 46

200’ intervals

Question 47

What are the two types of sprinkler systems found within the Metro system?

Answer 47

Wet pipe and deluge, deluge systems are found under escalators

Question 48

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?

Answer 48

2 minutes

Question 49

How does normal ventilation occur in the Metro tunnels and underground stations?

Answer 49

Train movement and mechanical fans

Question 50

What are the two modes of mechanical ventilation during emergency conditions?

Answer 50

Supply mode or exhaust mode depending upon need

Question 51

The primary method of air-exchange in the Metro tunnels is through train movement, what is this called?

Answer 51

The piston effect

Question 52

Who assumes control of the fans during an emergency?

Answer 52

The IC

Question 53

What are the four settings of the ventilation fans?

Answer 53

Emergency exhaust, Emergency supply, Automatic operation, and Off

Question 54

When activation is requested, how long does it take for the fans to start?

Answer 54

40-60 seconds

Question 55

Where are the Knox Rapid Entry Key Boxes located at each Metro station?

Answer 55

On the first flat wall to the right of the main entrance after the entry gate

Question 56

If a key is not available to access the entry gate, what should FRD personnel do to gain access to the Knox Box?

Answer 56

Cut the chain link closest to the lock, do not cut the lock

Question 57

What are the two normal means and two emergency means to evacuate each Metro station?

Answer 57

Entrance escalators or rail cars, and emergency exit shaft and vent shaft

Question 58

Wayside phones are found in the Emergency Trip Switch (blue light, ETS) boxes located along the Rail Roadway at intervals of how many feet?

Answer 58

800 feet

Question 59

What number do you press on a Metro wayside phone to be connected to ROCC?

Answer 59

0

Question 60

What cell phone service provider is compatible for use in underground Metro tunnels?

Answer 60

Verizon Wireless

Question 61

ROCC controls all Metro conference lines, up to how many callers can the conference line accept?

Answer 61

10 callers

Question 62

Each cell phone reduces the maximum number of callers on the Metro conference line by how many?

Answer 62

3

Question 63

What the blue light boxes contain?

Answer 63

Wayside telephone to communicate with the ROCC, Emergency Trip Button (red button) to deactivate third rail power. and a power removal map.

Question 64

When should the red mushroom button inside the ETS be pushed?

Answer 64

When there is an imminent threat to life safety

Question 65

Chain markers are located every ___ along the Rail Roadway.

Answer 65

100 feet. Starting from a center point or hub station.

Question 66

The last resort for passenger evacuation for either Rail Roadway, aerial, or tunnel is what?

Answer 66

Discharging passengers in the rail roadway, onto an aerial roadway, or into the tunnel. During which the 3rd rail must be deenergized

Question 67

All personnel shall wear and carry what prior to operating anywhere in the Metro system?

Answer 67

Reflective gear and carry a handlight.

Question 68

How far apart should flaggers be on metro incidents?

Answer 68

750 feet

Question 69

WSAD shall be placed no greater than what from the incident

Answer 69

500 feet

Question 70

What is the minimum resources assigned to an EMS incident in the RRW?

Answer 70

1 Transport unit, 1 Engine, 1 Truck, 1 Rescue, 1BC, 1EMS Sup

Question 71

Should the location of the incident be in RRW or track bed, who shall establish command?

Answer 71

First arriving officer

Question 72

What is the minimum compliment assigned to a structure fire or railcar fire, collision, derailment ( both below and above grade) ?

Answer 72

5 Engines 2 Trucks 2 EMS 2Rescues 2 BC 1 Safety officer/command aide 1 Tech Rescue 1 EMS Sup

Question 73

What is the primary responsibility for the first due Engine?

Answer 73

Conduct recon along with the 2nd Engine and 1st Truck

Question 74

What info should the first due officer obtain from the senior Metrorail official?

Answer 74

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

Question 75

Once the Recon group is given permission to the reported incident location the sit report shall include what?

Answer 75

Exact location via chain marker Nature and severity of incident Assistance required Status of the third rail Location of another access point if beneficial

Question 76

The overall strategy for a Metro emergency can be organized into what 4 steps?

Answer 76

ACRE Access Control Rescue Evacuate/EMS

Question 77

Every station standpipe connection has an ID plate that identifies what?

Answer 77

Shaft number, Maximum vertical drop, Maximal run of the piping.

Question 78

Truck Co will most likely be concerned with what responsibilities

Answer 78

Safety supervision, ems, logistical and support functions

Question 79

What are the flaggers distance on both metro and railroads

Answer 79

750 feet for metro and 2 miles for other railroad incidents

Question 80

What is the standard railroad signal instructing the operator to stop?

Answer 80

Swing the lighted handlight or flare horizontally from side to side

Question 81

What are the 2 basic types of rescue incidents that may occur at Metro?

Answer 81

Entrapment in machinery or entrapment involving trains

Question 82

What is the ETEC?

Answer 82

The Emergency Tunnel Evacuation Cart is a nonmotorized device used to remove non ambulatory passengers from the site

Question 83

What is a MERV?

Answer 83

Mobile Emergency Response Vehicle. It operates on railroad tracks and can only be used by metro.