NextStop Blog

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.