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Reach
Issue 6 2014
Operation Ghost Train...
T
he excellence of our
emergency services
is demonstrated on a
regular basis as they respond to
and support both planned and
unplanned events. But this level of
service is only achieved through the
agencies’ commitment to scenario
planning and regular simulated
exercises where responses can be
constantly improved.
Gwent Police participated in a
simulated train crash exercise to test
emergency services’ response to a
major incident in the Severn Tunnel
(Twnel Hafren) which connects rail
services between Gloucestershire
in England and Monmouthshire in
Wales, running parallel with the new
Severn Bridge. Following a rail crash
in the tunnel in 1991, the Home Ofce
has required that a bi-annual desk
top exercise is conducted, with a live
exercise every four years. This is to
ensure the best possible response
should an accident occur in the
tunnel in the future.
The exercise uses the real tunnel
environment with a real train and actors
in the role of simulated casualties. The
communications plan and emergency
services response are tested in full,
including the establishment of a
Silver control room, evacuation, and
treatment of the ‘casualties’. End-
to-end policing responsibility for the
Severn Tunnel lies with Gwent Police,
and the exercise was managed overall
by South Wales Fire and Rescue
Services (FRS), with signicant
involvement from other agencies.
These included Avon & Somerset
Police, British Transport Police, Avon
FRS, Welsh and Gloucestershire
Ambulance Services, National Rail,
local authorities and the Royal
Voluntary Service (formerly WRVS).
Graeme Orphan, Airwave Team
Manager for Gwent Police, takes up
the story: “The event took place over a
weekend, starting at 22:00 and running
to 10:00 the following morning. The
majority of the activity started at 01:00
and was completed by 04:00.
“A Police only brieng was given
at 22:30 at Malpas Police station,
Keeping the exercise on track, the
Fire and Rescue Services (FRS)
team: from left: Station Manager
Peter Howard-Jones, Liaison Of cer
and Tactical Advisor, South Wales
FRS, with Station Manager Gary
Weeks, Station Manager Andy
Willcocks, Tactical Advisor, and Group
Manager Gary Carr-Smith, Operations
Commander, all from Avon FRS.
