Emergency Response Drills At Riverside's New Metrolink Station by Carl Dameron - City News Group, Inc.
View Upcoming Events View Your Local Sales

Community Calendar

◄ NOVEMBER ►
S M T W T F S
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 01 02 03 04 05
View Events
Submit Events
directory

Emergency Response Drills At Riverside's New Metrolink Station

By Carl Dameron, Community Writer
December 16, 2015 at 12:29pm. Views: 117

As part of the Federal Railroad Administration's approval process for the upcoming launch of service on the 91/Perris Valley Line, Metrolink and Riverside County authorities will held an emergency preparedness drill on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at the soon-to-be opened Moreno Valley/March Field Station. Volunteers were present for both cycles of training playing various roles. Fire authorities conducted a hands-on victim removal simulation relating to a collision resulting in multiple victims on board. Law enforcement conducted a walk thru of the train's interior to identify choke points, hiding spots and danger zones for officer safety. This was NOT an active shooter scenario. Metrolink, in partnership with the Riverside County Transportation Commission, the City of Riverside Fire Department, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, the Riverside County Emergency Management Department, and the CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department, held a multi-jurisdictional emergency preparedness drill. “This is the culminating event to more than a year of emergency response planning and training in preparation for the extension of Metrolink's 91/Perris Valley Line from downtown Riverside to south Perris,” Scott Johnson, Metrolink asst. public affairs officer. Emergency response planning for the service expansion began in late 2014 with a table top drill being conducted in February 2015. Four classes were held Oct. 28-30 at the Ben Clark Training Center in Riverside with a total of 127 fire fighters and 46 deputies from respective law enforcement and first responder agencies. Additional training was provided to 40 fire fighters and three Riverside County Sheriff's deputies from Jurupa Valley on Sunday, Nov. 1. The recent attacks at San Bernardino’s Inland Regional Center demonstrated the need for emergency practice drills. The practice drills in San Bernardino helped seven different agencies that responding to the attacks work together flawlessly. “Areas reviewed at all training sessions included an overview of Metrolink service, how to develop a pre-plan for respective organizations, familiarization with Metrolink passenger cars and locomotives, and how to safely address an emergency involving passenger rail,” said Johnson. “As part of the Federal Railroad Administration's code for passenger train emergency preparedness, Metrolink is held the drill and training as one of numerous steps in the FRA's approval process for opening a commuter rail line,” Johnson. Metrolink is Southern California's regional commuter rail service in its 23rd year of operation. The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA), a joint powers authority made up of an 11-member board representing the transportation commissions of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, governs the service. Metrolink operates over seven routes through a six-county, 512 route-mile network. Metrolink is the third largest commuter rail agency in the United States based on directional route miles and the eighth largest based on annual ridership. Passenger service to Perris is scheduled to begin early next year.

Related Articles

Photo Courtesy of: BBOP Center

By Justus Baker-Postell, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 505

BBOP Information Session The Black and Brown Opportunities for Profit (BBOP) Center, an Inland Empire economic and workforce development hub and a project of Time for Change Foundation, has launched Pathways to Prosperity, its Employment Training Pathway Program (ETPP), a comprehensive workforce initiative designed to connect residents facing barriers to employment with the skills, credentials, hands-on experience and employer relationships needed to enter and advance in high-demand careers.

Photo Courtesy of: San Bernardino's California Theatre from 1930

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 370

Nearly a century after opening its doors, the downtown landmark remains an important connection between the city's entertainment history and its cultural future. In downtown San Bernardino, the California Theatre of the Performing Arts stands as a reminder of a time when attending a movie or live performance was one of the most anticipated social occasions in a growing Southern California city.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 365

With winter approaching, emergency officials are coordinating flood prevention, roadway maintenance and public alerts to help residents prepare for dangerous weather. A heavy rainstorm can change the landscape of San Bernardino in a matter of hours. Streets that ordinarily carry commuters and school buses can become difficult to navigate, drainage channels can fill rapidly, and neighborhoods near foothills may face increased risks from flooding and debris.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 314

A sweeping decision involving California's most serious criminal sentences has drawn strong opposition from San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson, placing the county's chief prosecutor at the center of a statewide debate over justice, victims' rights and executive authority.

Photo Courtesy of: West Valley Water District

By Socorro Pantaleon, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:14am. Views: 224

Group photos of WVWD Board Members and winning students of the 2026 Poster Contest

Photo Courtesy of: CalKIDS

By Justus Baker-Postell, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:13am. Views: 376

During National Scholarship Month, families are encouraged to check their eligibility for scholarships supporting college and career training.

Photo Courtesy of: Khouri Evans-Dangerfield

By Mike Hoover. President, Inland Empire Civil War Round Table, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 243

University of Redlands student Khouri Evans-Dangerfield will examine slavery, constitutional law and the decisions that divided a nation during a free November 15 presentation at A.K. Smiley Public Library.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 241

November 11 screening of acclaimed film “All We Imagine as Light” invites students and community members to experience international cinema and discussion. Films can transport audiences to places they have never visited, introduce them to unfamiliar experiences and encourage them to consider how people in different parts of the world navigate relationships, work and personal challenges.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Willam Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 247

A decision announced in Sacramento could change the sentences of hundreds of California prisoners, bringing renewed attention to the death penalty and the future of criminal punishment across the state. Governor Gavin Newsom announced November 5 that he intends to commute the death sentences of all 548 people currently sentenced to death in California.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 288

November 21 event at Olive Avenue Market will introduce residents to drought-tolerant landscaping, city rebates and the benefits of native plants. A beautiful garden does not have to depend on a large lawn or plants that require frequent watering.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:17am. Views: 181

A school announcement can contain information that changes a family's entire afternoon. A reminder about an upcoming meeting, a schedule adjustment or a message from a teacher may determine when a parent leaves work, arranges transportation or helps a child prepare for the next school day.

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 247

Cosme Córdova and Eduvina pose in front of the Division 9 Gallery booth, where visitors had the opportunity to purchase commemorative souvenirs and keepsakes celebrating Riverside's Día de los Muertos Festival.

--> -->