Metro News Release

For immediate release: March 28, 2010

Emergency response Rosslyn Metrorail exercise ends

Drill tested regional response to Metrorail incident

Metro’s emergency response exercise at the Rosslyn Metrorail station ended at 3:30 a.m., Sunday, March 28.

The exercise involved a simulated explosion on a Metrorail train in the tunnel between the Rosslyn and Foggy Bottom Metrorail stations. As a result of the “explosion,” hundreds of passengers were injured or killed. Metro operations, emergency management and police personnel responded along with police, fire and emergency medical services personnel from Arlington County, the District of Columbia, City of Alexandria, Fairfax County, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The drill enabled Metro and its regional partners to test the integrated response and incident coordination among the responding agencies.

The exercise took place after midnight when ridership is lighter and fewer passengers would have been impacted by the emergency response activity. The Rosslyn Metrorail station remained open throughout the exercise. Passengers using the Rosslyn Metrorail station and residents in the area may have seen numerous police, fire and emergency response vehicles, first responders and volunteer “victims” near the station, but there was no emergency. It was just a drill.

News release issued at 3:41 am, March 28, 2010.