Metro Transit Police and the City of Alexandria will conduct a full-scale emergency response drill Sunday, March 13, at the Eisenhower Ave Metrorail Station that will allow emergency personnel to practice their response to a simulated train derailment.
The exercise, which will take place on the elevated track and tunnel between Eisenhower Ave and King St-Old Town stations, will simulate real-world conditions to test coordination and communication between on-scene emergency responders, Metrorail operations staff, Metro Transit Police and support personnel.
The exercise will begin at 8:30 a.m. and is expected to conclude no later than 2 p.m. In addition to Metro Transit Police and Metrorail operations personnel, Alexandria Police, Alexandria Fire and Alexandria’s Office of Emergency Management will also participate in the event.
Metro conducts exercises with emergency responders throughout the region on a quarterly basis. More than 100 emergency responders and volunteers are expected to participate.
Customer Information
- Eisenhower Ave and Huntington stations will be closed to the public during the exercise, Sunday, March 13, from approximately 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Metro will notify customers when the stations reopen via email, text message and social media.
- Free bus shuttle service will operate between Huntington and Eisenhower Ave stations to/from King St-Old Town for Metrorail service.
- Yellow Line trains will run to/from Franconia-Springfield instead of Huntington. Blue Line service to/from Franconia-Springfield will not be affected.
- Regular route Metrobus service will operate normally.
- Members of the public in the area of Eisenhower Ave may notice a large number of emergency vehicles on site. Please be assured that this is only a drill.
