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Class 378 fire safety

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Waddon

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Just curious, but I know in the past if there was a fire on a train, passengers would be moved to safety in an adjacent carriage, which would be safer due to having the interconnecting doors closed... how would that work on a 378 (or the new Met stock for that matter) as they are open plan throughout with no corridor-doors or anything? There doesn't appear to be any way of preventing smoke etc. travelling the whole length of the unit

I'm sure this has all been thought about during the building of this stock but was wondering what special features they have for this event if it were to occur, especially as they operate on lines with lots of tunnels?
 
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Harbon 1

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met S stock and 378s have got doors on the front for evacuation, i suppose thats where the passengers would go? (only going on the Electrostar Modern Locomotives Illustrated :P)
 

Waddon

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True, but evacuating the train altogether through the front door onto the track is not always the most practical idea, especially as the train could have several hundred people on board...
 

causton

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True, but evacuating the train altogether through the front door onto the track is not always the most practical idea, especially as the train could have several hundred people on board...

I would not be happy if I was stuck on the middle of this 'several hundred people' and knew that there was a fire a couple of carriages away in any circumstances. I would be evacuating onto the track unless there was a compelling reason not to!
 

shedman

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I understand what you mean, the doors between the carriages to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading further. Its a good point!
 

Skoodle

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Materials on the 378s are above the most stringent flamibility critea, such that it is extremely unlikely to have anything catch fire on its own, more likely vandalism. Due to the short distances between stations, it is unlikely that people would be overcome before finding a suitable place to evacuate after being alerted by a passcom, this is in reference to the ELL.

There are two evacuation steps at each end of the train as mentioned previously, but to be honest they would not be used in a fire, as these are for tunnel egress and I certainly wouldnt stop the train in one if it was alight. We would go to a suitable nearest location and open the doors on the safest side to get everyone off as quickly as possible. There is an AFF extinguisher in each cab and we can also turn off the aircon in the passenger saloon to prevent influx of more oxygen.

This thread has got me thinking about the most suitable locations to evacuate on the ELL if there was a fire on my train, something to ponder over whilst I do Three hours of New Cross shuttles this morning.
 
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