The comprehensive training has been held once a year on a rotating basis on each line, but was temporarily suspended from 2020 to 2021 due to the Corona disaster and international sporting events, making this the first time in three years that such training has been held. In 2023, the training is scheduled to be held at the Oshima Rolling Stock Testing and Inspection Center on the Toei Shinjuku Line.
While workplace-based drills are conducted on a regular basis, this comprehensive drill was a large-scale joint exercise involving the station, operation, and maintenance divisions. This time, a total of 240 people participated, including 100 employees of the Transportation Bureau, the Shimura Fire Department of the Tokyo Fire Department, and employees in charge of passenger services.
On October 11, 2022, the Tokyo Metropolitan Transportation Bureau conducted the “2022 Comprehensive Drill for Emergency Situations” at the Shimura Rolling Stock Inspection and Control Center of the Toei Mita Line in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo. This drill is conducted every year to maintain and improve the readiness to respond to disasters and other abnormal situations.
The drill was conducted under the scenario of a train derailment caused by an earthquake with an intensity of up to 6 on the Japanese seismic scale.
The drill scenario was based on the scenario of “rescue and evacuation of injured passengers (first drill)” and “restoration of derailed trains and damaged train lines (second drill)” following the derailment of a train that entered the Takashimadaira Station yard due to an earthquake with a maximum intensity of 6 on the Japanese scale. In addition to the previously announced scenario, a scenario in which a sudden event occurs was also announced.
Before the drill began, Mr. Takuhiro Umemura, Deputy Director General of the Tokyo Metropolitan Transportation Bureau, gave an opening speech. Mr. Umemura stated that when the Nippori-Toneri Liner experienced a derailment following an earthquake in the northwest part of Chiba Prefecture in October 2021 that registered an intensity of 5 on the Japanese seismic scale, “we minimized damage to customers by providing accurate evacuation guidance” and “our engineering team removed the cars, restored service, and conducted reliable inspections” to restore normal service within three days. The company preliminarily stated that it was able to restore normal operations within three days.
As a lesson learned, he stated, “We are responsible for the lives of many customers on a daily basis,” and “The Mita Line alone serves 480,000 customers a day.” “We must respond appropriately in times of emergency and quickly restore the city’s infrastructure as a provider of such services.
In addition, since subway stations are designated as emergency evacuation facilities, “the question is how to ensure safety not only during normal operations but also during emergencies and how to respond to such emergencies,” he said. He explained the need to enhance the ability to respond immediately to such situations and the significance of joint drills.
The drill began with the driver bringing the train to an emergency stop using the Early Earthquake Warning System after an earthquake occurred. The driver notifies the train command that the power is out and that the train is leaning and there is a possibility of derailment.
After the protective alarm was issued to alert the surrounding trains to make an emergency stop, and an in-train announcement was made to inform passengers of the earthquake and the current situation, the train was placed on the tracks. After the emergency protection with smoke bombs, support staff arrived from Takashimadaira Station.
After confirming the derailment of the lead car and damage to the pantograph, the staff photographed the situation on their tablets and shared the information with the command center. By communicating objective information not only by words over the radio, but also by video, the situation could be accurately assessed, and subsequent restoration work could be carried out quickly.
Upon returning to the train, the staff and driver checked the number of injured passengers. Detailed information is sent to the command center, including the number of passengers (100), two seriously injured with broken bones and bleeding from the head, and one wheelchair user.
The train crews wait for the arrival of support staff with stretchers to transport the seriously injured out of the train, and perform lifesaving measures using AED and cardiac massage. In the meantime, the operation command sent information to other trains on the status of power outage, termination of operation, and other future measures as needed.
Although many events were taking place simultaneously, and the radio traffic was very mixed, it was impressive to see that the situation was proceeding without any particular signs of confusion at the respective sites. Even under such circumstances, the passengers were kept informed of the current situation in detail as needed, and the situation was thoroughly managed to avoid the “lack of information” that would be the most frustrating for those involved.
After the arrival of the firefighting and emergency response teams, they take over the treatment of the seriously injured and concentrate on guiding the evacuation of those with minor injuries. In addition to checking to see if there are any passengers remaining in the trains or on the tracks, the company will distribute disaster supplies at Takashimadaira Station, which is a temporary evacuation site, and provide information on facilities for those who are unable to return home.
In parallel with this, maintenance-related inspections were conducted to check the vehicles and track, and the process of restoration was underway.
During the drill, blind scenarios occurred, such as a passenger who did not follow guidance and walked out of the car, and an aftershock. The training proceeded smoothly and without problems, even though it was difficult for those of us watching from the sidelines to understand what was going on. It was clear that the daily training had been put to good use.
Mr. Yasunaga Tezuka, Chief of the Shimura Fire Station of the Tokyo Fire Department, who participated in the evacuation drill, commented, “It was very reassuring to see how quickly and accurately the Transportation Bureau staff worked to ensure the safety of passengers.
By accumulating practical drills for emergency situations, we can reduce the damage from disasters that may occur at a moment’s notice. “The fire department will continue to work closely with everyone at the Department of Transportation regarding various accidents and disasters, including earthquake disasters,” commented Mr. Kato.
© Source travel watch
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