Everyone knows the routine of being on a train during normal operation. But what
do you need to know if you're on a train during an emergency? Behind the scenes
there are people and plans in place to help you in the event you're on a train
during an emergency. CTA operates a safe system and provides
more than 1,800 train trips every day. The vast majority of those trips occur
without incident, but if you're on a train that experiences problems you need
to know what to expect, what emergency features are already in place in the
subway or on a train, and what you may be asked to do. CTA has added signage
lighting and other features to enhance the safety in the subway. Safety features
in the subway include signage that directs customers to the closest
emergency exit. There are emergency walkways upon which the customers can
walk to the closest emergency exit, and they're equipped with handrail. Also note
that all exits have signs with the street address and stairs that lead up
to street level. We have blue lights affixed throughout the subway. Those blue
lights are places where telephones are located. Now at those telephones the
passengers have the ability to push one button and they're able to talk directly
to our control center. Now as they continue walking towards the emergency
exit there's a flashing blue light that would alert them to the location of that
emergency exit as well as a message that's plane that directs them to that
emergency exit. The emergency exit is at the flashing blue light.
The safety features inside the train include emergency
response instructions -- what to do if there's an emergency. There are speakers
within each train car that the motormen -- the operator -- in the train can
communicate to the customers through. And then there are doors that pass from
train car to train car should the operator provide instructions for the
customers to leave one train car to another. They have the ability to safely
pass through. Both the Chicago Fire Department and
Chicago Police Department are alerted to emergencies on CTA system by personnel
who are on duty at CTAs Control Center. Fire and police personnel trained
alongside CTA staff to familiarize themselves with CTA subway tunnels and
elevated structure so when they respond to the scene they can provide assistance
to riders as quickly as possible. As field employees we're in direct contact
with our control center. Our control center has direct lines to the police
department, the fire department, and the OEMC. All CTA trains have a two-way
intercom system which allows customers to talk to the rail operator in an
emergency. If you're in an emergency situation look for the blue light on the
rail card lighting panel. Push the operator call button and this will put
you in contact with the rail operator.
May I help you please?
It's very important to listen to CTA
personnel or any other personnel that are on the scene at that time because
we've been trained to handle emergency situations.
It's dangerous to self evacuate because there are dangers our customers might
not be aware of and might not be able to avoid. There is the third rail that is
has 600 volts of power. That power gets cut when we have emergency situations
meaning it may be turned it would be turned off but if customers self
evacuate it might still be live. Likewise there's a risk associated with
potentially moving trains. If you're in a train in an emergency never evacuate
unless you are told to do so by a CTA employee or if your immediate safety is
threatened. In most cases the safest place for you to be is on the train.
Attention passengers. This train is being taken out of service.
We'll be evacuating the train along the emergency walkway. I need someone to
volunteer to lead the passengers. How about you sir? Thank you. If it ever becomes
necessary for you to evacuate a train CTA or emergency personnel will ask you
to leave the train in one of five ways. If the train is located completely in a
station you will be directed to step out of the side doors onto the
platform. If the train is located only partially in a station you will be
directed to pass through the indoors to the portion of the train that is in the
station and then use the side doors to access the platform. If the train is
located out of a station and there's no nearby train you will be directed to
exit using the side doors to the emergency walkway located at track or
platform level. If the train is out of the station and there is another train
on the same track you will be directed to use the end doors to access the other
train. If the train is out of the station and there's another train on the
adjacent track you will be directed to walk through the train to the designated
car where you will cross over to the other train. For your safety CTA does
have some do's and don'ts for evacuations. Do's include familiarize
yourself with evacuation procedures. These are posted in each railcar. Stay
calm and listen carefully to CTA or emergency personnel instructions. The
don'ts are do not open the doors. If the train is in motion this would be
extremely dangerous. If the train is not moving then the rail operator has made
the decision not to open the doors for passenger safety. Also never touch any
tracks or rails even if you've been told the power is off. For CTA safety is our
number-one priority and one of the things we'll want to do is encourage our
public to continue to ride CTA. So when you're aboard our trains and you can feel
safe that we've already spent hours -- countless hours -- training and preparing
for any type of situations that could come about. In order to ensure the safety
of our passengers and our employees CTA has training programs for employees. We
have exercises where we practice different types of emergencies and how
to react and we also monitor our programs for effectiveness and are
looking constantly for opportunities to improve them.
CTA continues to review and enhance its procedures designed to keep customers
safe in an emergency. Helping you make your connections I'm Jeanne Sparrow.
Thanks for watching.
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