Hull Trains has orchestrated the biggest safety training event in the company’s history as a part of its groundbreaking staff development scheme.

Following on from its pioneering evacuation training programme launched last year, a new simulation was created to include not only the evacuation of passengers but the entirety of an emergency situation, involving the co-ordination of emergency response teams and the creation of a crisis control centre.

The simulation aimed to create as faithfully as possible the sheer scale of an event such as this and the number of people that would be involved during the course of the event. Procedures for what would happen when passengers had been safely evacuated were carried out and, in an effort to create an authentic situation; volunteers even played onlookers getting in the way.

This new exercise has not only helped the members of staff from Hull Trains and the volunteers from St. John Ambulance, it has also been documented on a DVD and will potentially be used in the training of many more rail professionals in the future.

Ian Dunn, Hull Trains Operations Manager, explained: “The first scenario that we created focused on the evacuation of passengers from the train and once we felt that all staff had built up confidence in this most essential element, we decided to add other factors into the mix. “We wanted to recreate what would be going on around the train in an emergency and so we once again called upon the local branch of St. John Ambulance to help. As well as providing the Casualty and Accident Simulation Team who played the passengers, St. John provided the emergency response crew and vehicles that were called out to the event. “The unique aspect of this simulation was that the St. John also used this as a training opportunity. The response crew were not briefed on all aspects of the scenario and so were not sure of what to expect when they arrived and it was a great chance for them to evaluate some of their crisis response skills.
“This event was an invaluable learning experience for us all and I am extremely proud of the way in which all of the staff performed throughout the scenario. Their dedication to preparing themselves for unforeseen circumstances, going far above and beyond what they are required to do, is outstanding.”

Emma Rogers was the train manager during the scenario. She commented: “In the early training situations, we became familiar with the difficulties that we may face on-board the train, such as smoke and other obstructions. This time, the event was on a much larger scale and the volume of people there was a little overwhelming at first. “But this event has brought home the importance of staying focused and not becoming distracted by what may be going on around us. I now feel that I would not be fazed if called upon to help in a situation like this and that I could confidently perform what I have been trained to do.”