News
Metro Hosts Joint Training Exercise for First Responders Starting October 24
Fire departments from 12 local municipalities will join Metro transit beginning on Monday, October 24, for a three-day joint training exercise at the Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 MetroLink Station. Crews from the Brentwood, Clayton, Crestwood, Glendale, Ladue, Maplewood, Olivette, Richmond Heights, Rock Hill, Shrewsbury, University City and Webster Groves Fire Departments will train on how to conduct emergency operations on MetroLink, which will include:
- Using ladder trucks to reach an elevated MetroLink track
- Accessing the interior of the train
- Using rail-specific safety equipment like rail clamps
- Practicing rescuing passengers from an elevated MetroLink train using a ladder truck
The joint training exercise is scheduled to take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, October 24, Tuesday, October 25, and Thursday, October 27, at the Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 MetroLink Station. The exercise provides local first responders with first-hand experience on the uniqueness of working with MetroLink trains and elevated rail lines, as well as the coordination and communication required in situations where multiple agencies must work together efficiently.
The training exercise will only impact MetroLink schedules at the Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 MetroLink Station. During the exercise from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., eastbound Blue Line trains will depart from the Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 Station FIVE MINUTES EARLIER than their scheduled times, and westbound Blue Line trains will arrive at the station up to five minutes later than their scheduled times. These trains will operate on their normal schedules when serving all other MetroLink stations.
Some parking spots at the Park-Ride lot at the Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 Station will be unavailable to commuters during the training exercises to accommodate fire trucks and equipment.
This training exercise was previously scheduled to take place in June, but was rescheduled due to the weather.
MEDIA: If you would like to take photos or video of the local firefighters participating in this exercise, please contact Jerry Vallely, External Communications Manager, at 314-486-5553. A good time to get footage of the exercise will be on Tuesday, October 25 at 9:30 a.m., when firefighters will use ladders to reach a train parked on the elevated tracks and they will practice rescuing “passengers” from train.
About Metro
Metro is the operator of the St. Louis region’s public transportation system, which includes the 87 vehicle, 46-mile MetroLink light rail system; 399 MetroBus vehicle fleet that operates on 78 MetroBus routes in Missouri and Illinois; and Metro Call-A-Ride, a paratransit fleet of 122 vans. Metro is an enterprise of Bi-State Development (BSD), which also owns and operates St. Louis Downtown Airport and the Gateway Arch Riverboats, as well as operates the Gateway Arch Revenue Collections Center and Gateway Arch trams. BSD also operates the Bi-State Development Research Institute and the St. Louis Regional Freightway.
