Heavy Rail - IRP L - PDF

Railroad Infrastructure and Services

• CSX Corporation owns and operates the heavy rail line in Montgomery County, known as the “Metropolitan Subdivision.”
• MARC refers to this line as the “Brunswick Line,” while Amtrak operates the “Capital Limited” service on it.
• Train movements within Montgomery County are controlled by CSX, regardless of the train service provider.
• CSX uses mileposts, which are spaced at one-mile intervals, to identify locations along the rail line, starting from Union Station.

Incident Response Policy Overview

• Introduced on April 1, 2020, the policy provides a framework for safe responses to heavy rail incidents.
• Applicable to all personnel, including MCFRS and other organizations, operating on or adjacent to the CSX heavy rail roadway.
• Acknowledges the unique challenges of railroad incidents: moving trains, high voltage, and the potential for hazardous materials create a hazardous environment.

Hazards and Risks

• Railroad incidents can lead to mass casualties, especially involving passenger trains or hazardous materials from freight trains.
• The possibility of terrorist attacks targeting passenger rail services necessitates heightened awareness and preparedness.
• Freight trains can carry large amounts of hazardous materials in various forms (solids, liquids, gases).

Risk Reduction Strategies

• Preplanning is essential for recognizing railroad environmental hazards.
• Train movements can occur at any time and direction, necessitating that personnel wait for CSX confirmation before approaching the roadway.
• Train stoppage requests must be submitted to CSX, which operates from Jacksonville, Florida—making local milepost knowledge crucial.

Safety Protocols

• The heavy rail roadway is classified as a high hazard area; staying 30 feet away is mandatory unless train traffic is controlled.
• Minimum personal protective equipment (PPE) includes safety toe footwear, long pants, traffic safety vest, gloves, eye protection, and a helmet.
• Emergency response should involve proper notifications to CSX for train stoppage and updates on the incident status.

Incident Command and First Response Actions

• Commands should assess the scene, establish command, and request additional resources as necessary.
• Personnel must maintain lookout posts to warn of approaching trains.
• First Due Engine responsibilities include assessing the scene, establishing water supply, and managing passenger evacuation.

Equipment for Response

• Essential equipment includes trauma care kits, handlights, tool bags, thermal imaging cameras, and patient movers.
• For locomotive fires, activating the fuel cut-off switch and maintaining a safe firefighting distance is crucial.
• Hazardous material incidents require isolation zones identification and evacuation if necessary.

Coordination and Communication

• Continuous coordination with the ECC and other units is vital during incidents involving railroad operations.
• Contact CSX with detailed incident information, including nature and scope, milepost location, type of train involved, and stoppage requests.
• Assign operational roles and ensure lookouts are in position before allowing personnel to operate near the tracks.

Equipment for Incident Response

• Essential gear includes Trauma Care Kits, Handlights, Tool Bags, Thermal Imaging Cameras, and Patient Movers.
• First Due Aerial Units act as primary lookouts and must secure upright cars by applying hand brakes during derailments.
• Rescue Squads focus on rescuing individuals in entrapment scenarios and assist in mass casualty incidents.

Safe Operations Around Heavy Rail

• Personnel must remain vigilant regarding METRORAIL trains and the electrified third rail due to overlapping train movements.
• Heavy rail trains have diesel-electric locomotives with a fuel tank capacity of 5,000 gallons; these trains can weigh over 100 tons.
• Passenger trains utilize head-end power (HEP) at 480 volts to operate electrical systems including lighting and climate control.

Incident Command Procedures

• The Primary Unit Officer manages initial scene assessment, determining incident nature, life hazards, passenger status, and hazardous materials presence.
• A Situation Update Report (SUR) is needed to outline location, incident conditions, actions taken, and resource requests.
• Command structure (Tactical or Stationary) must be established based on incident scope.

Hazardous Material Protocols

• Isolation zones are critical and must be established based on the type and amount of hazardous materials involved and current weather conditions.
• Only HazMat team members are authorized to operate tank car valves or relief devices.

Safety Protocols for Personnel

• Personnel should keep a minimum distance of 20 feet from train ends and exhibit caution near couplers, hoses, and electrical systems.
• Avoid operating on top of rail cars and walking on passenger train windows due to safety concerns.
• Engage hand brakes on rail cars before any operation; only railroad personnel may release these brakes.

Communication and Coordination

• Requests for train stoppages must be made through CSX Operations; proper milepost data is essential due to geographic unfamiliarity of operators.
• Anticipate train movement for at least 10 minutes following any stop requests due to the stopping requirements of different train types.

Emergency Operations

• Initial actions dictate that emergency responders should verify passenger counts, especially as Amtrak tracks are real-time while MARC trains do not monitor passenger counts dynamically.
• Light and ventilation systems in passenger cars are dependent on locomotive power; consider keeping locomotives operational unless otherwise unsafe.

Precautions in Fire Situations

• In case of a locomotive fire, confirm fuel supply status and tank integrity before reacting.
• Hoses should not be directed down the exhaust stack of locomotives and the engine room entry requires permission from the incident commander.