NSW: Stairs to be installed inside Sydney's rail tunnels

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2006
NSW: Stairs to be installed inside Sydney's rail tunnels

SYDNEY, April 16 AAP - Sets of stairs are to be installed alongside Sydney's underground
rail network as part of an evacuation plan for commuters in the event of a terrorist attack.

The stairs and sets of landings will be placed at 70 metre intervals along the tracks,
with RailCorp also considering new devices that detect a chemical or biological attack
on the rail network.

The Sunday Telegraph reports that the NSW government has issued tenders for more than
500 sets of the aluminium stairs that will allow 40 passengers a minute to disembark from
carriages.

This is four times more than is possible in the current system of using ladders.

Passengers will then be led out of tunnels along walkways to the nearest platform.

The Telegraph also reports that shutter doors will be installed at Sydney's underground
train stations to seal them off in an emergency.

The first of these doors will be installed at Central Station immediately, costing $50,000.

AAP nr/cjh

KEYWORD: TERROR RAIL

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