On Sunday, November 5th at approximately 10:00 AM, the MBTA will be conducting an emergency evacuation drill involving an Orange Line subway train north of Malden Center station. This exercise is being conducted jointly with the MBTA Transit Police, Malden Fire Department, Malden Police Department and Cataldo Ambulance Service. While the exercise is scheduled from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., surrounding neighbors can expect heightened activity in the area starting as early as 7:00 a.m. A diversion of service between Oak Grove and Wellington Stations will already be in place from the start of service. Free shuttle buses will operate between Oak Grove and Wellington. Orange Line train service will operate between Wellington and Forest Hill.
The exercise is designed to establish a learning environment for public safety officials to exercise emergency response plans, policies, and procedures as they pertain to a mass casualty event on an Orange Line subway train. To ensure an effective exercise, subject matter experts and representatives from numerous agencies took part in the planning process and will take part in the exercise conduct and evaluation.
As part of the exercise scenario, a train is traveling inbound between Oak Grove and Malden Center Station; the train hits and obstruction on the right of way and derails before coming to a stop. Several passengers are injured, and others must evacuate the train.
Agencies playing in this exercise include the MBTA Operations, MBTA Transit Police, Malden Fire Department (MFD), Malden Police Department (MPD) and Cataldo Ambulance Services (CAS).