Members of the Bedford Park Fire Department tour a railcar.

The Belt hosted a Passenger Train Emergency Response (PTER) training session.

Patrolman Ramon Ortiz and Amtrak Regional Emergency Manager Gary Miller helped prepare members of the Bedford Park Fire Department by familiarizing them with an Amtrak passenger car. The training included classroom-based instruction and hands-on practice.

First responders practiced evacuating and extracting passengers and removing railcar windows. The event also included a mock emergency scenario that included a Belt dispatcher, Belt police and other first responders.

Ortiz said it’s a fantastic way to network with other agencies and enhance the railroad’s safety profile.

From left, Amtrak Regional Emergency Manager Gary Miller and Patrolman
Ramon Ortiz