Mock accident prepares MetroRail

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Capital Metro rail will officially start running in March, but to prepare for passengers and potential problems, a mock emergency happened Thursday. The fake accident at the Leander station off of U.S. Highway 183 involved a car and train. However, no damage occurred to either the car or train.

A few minutes after the train operator called dispatch, dozens of emergency responders arrived around 11 a.m. Leander High School students played victims getting off the train, and a few others were hauled off on stretchers.

The driver of the car that was supposedly hit by the train was fine, but if an accident were to truly happen, that driver probably would not survive. Although crossing signs are set up along the 32-mile track that runs from Leander to Downtown Austin, accidents could potentially happen when the rail is up and running. Emergency crews and Capital Metro want to make sure they are ready to respond to serious situations.

"We're conducting the exercise in Leander today, but we'll also do others in Austin," said Adam Shaivitz, with Capital Metro. "Our entire segment runs frm Giddings to Llano, and the passenger segment just runs from Leander to Austin, but we do take safety seriously wherever it is on the line."

The trains will not officially start running until March 30, but in a few weeks the rail will start running without passengers.