This past Sunday (28 September), Porterbrook aided the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) with a major incident training session at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre.
The exercise simulated a passenger train colliding with multiple vehicles at an unstaffed level crossing and included the assessment of casualties and fatalities, as well as additional response exercises to assess threatening passenger and missing person situations.
The location, facilities and train were all provided by Porterbrook, with a number of agencies taking part in the training including the Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, Avon Urban Search and Rescue, Gloucestershire Police, Severn Area Rescue Association and GFRS itself.
Stuart Parsons, General Manager at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre, said:Railway safety is paramount and, while we hope that real incidents like this never happen, we’re pleased that Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre has been able to support the industry to be as prepared as possible.
