RAPID Rail Sdn Bhd (Rapid Rail), the designated operator of the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) Line, held an emergency rescue and evacuation exercise inside the MRT tunnel near the Tun Razak Exchange Station on 25 May 2017 in view of the second phase of the line opening in less than two weeks time.

Besides Rapid Rail staff, other personnel from Malaysia Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) and MMC Gamuda KVMRT (PDP) Sdn Bhd, the Project Delivery Partner for the line, were also involved. Various emergency response services such as the Fire and Rescue Services, Police and the Kuala Lumpur and Sungai Buloh hospitals also took part in the exercise.

The exercise, which is part of the Emergency Response Plan, is a mandatory requirement by the Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat (SPAD) before an operating license is to be issued for railways.

The exercise involved a simulation where an MRT train moving towards the Cochrane Station from TRX suddenly derailing upon disembarking from TRX. Fire also broke out on the train tracks.

Around 400 passengers, comprising volunteers from MRT Corp, MMC Gamuda and Prasarana Malaysia Bhd had to be evacuated from the train. They were led onto the emergency walkway and headed back to the TRX Station.

Several passengers were “injured” and there were also two “deaths.” The “injured” and “bodies” were carried out by Fire and Rescue Services personnel to Escape Shaft 3, which is located at the Kampung Pandan Roundabout. This shaft was built for the purpose of emergency evacuations.

The injured were immediately attended to by hospital personnel while those who needed further medical attention were sent to the Hospital Kuala Lumpur by ambulance.

The exercise was deemed a success with all parties carrying out their roles according to the emergency response plan.