On July 23, the D3115 and D301 high-speed trains collided in Wenzhou, resulting in multiple fatalities. Although train accidents are relatively rare, we must not let our guard down. In the event of a train accident, immediate and effective self-protection measures should be taken—stay calm and evacuate in an orderly manner under the guidance of relevant personnel.
During the 2009 Spring Festival travel rush, the official website of the Chinese central government provided safety and self-rescue tips for passengers in the event of a train accident. Although train accidents are relatively rare, taking effective self-protection measures during an incident can improve your chances of survival and successfully escaping the disaster.
How to Self-Rescue When a Train Catches Fire
If the train you are on catches fire, stay calm, composed, and make accurate judgments—avoid panic and then take steps to escape.
1. Make the Train Stop Quickly
First, remain calm as a passenger. Never jump off the train blindly, as that would be tantamount to suicide. Making the train stop quickly is the top priority. In case of fire, promptly notify the train attendants to stop the train, extinguish the fire, and help passengers evacuate, or quickly rush to the connection area at either end of the carriage, locate the chain-style brake handle, and turn it forcefully clockwise to stop the train as soon as possible. Alternatively, quickly run to the back of the doors at either end of the carriage and forcefully push down the emergency brake valve handle to also stop the train quickly.
2. Evacuate in an Orderly Manner Under Crew Guidance
When a fire breaks out on a moving passenger train, while train attendants guide trapped individuals to escape through inter-carriage passageways, they should also quickly pull the emergency brake to stop the train and organize manpower to swiftly open all doors and windows to assist those still trapped in evacuating.
If the fire in the affected carriage is not severe, train attendants should instruct passengers not to open the carriage doors or windows, as a large influx of fresh air could accelerate the spread of the fire. At the same time, organize passengers to use onboard firefighting equipment to control the blaze and orderly guide trapped individuals to evacuate from the front and rear doors of the carriage to adjacent ones. When thick smoke fills the carriage, advise those trapped to crouch low and escape to outside the carriage or to adjacent ones.
3. Escape Through the Front or Rear Carriage Doors
Each carriage of a passenger train has a walkway approximately 20 meters long and 80 centimeters wide, with manual or automatic doors at either end leading to adjacent carriages. When a fire occurs in a particular carriage, these passages serve as the main escape routes for those trapped. During a fire, trapped individuals should quickly use the passageways at either end of the carriage to evacuate the scene in an orderly manner.
4. Escape Through the Carriage Windows
The windows in passenger train carriages are typically 70 cm × 60 cm and equipped with double glazing. In the event of a fire, trapped individuals can break the window glass using a hard object and escape through the window.
Self-Rescue When in Danger at Different Locations on a Train
In the event of a train accident, passengers in different parts of the train should adopt different preventive and self-rescue measures.
1. When Seated in a Carriage
If the train tilts, shakes, or derails, and if you have enough reaction time, lie flat on the ground, face down, with your hands protecting the back of your neck.
In this situation, quick reactions are the best survival strategy to avoid injuries from metal deformation, flying luggage, or shattered glass. How you survive in a crowded carriage depends on your reaction speed—you must act fast and respond immediately.
Passengers with their backs facing the direction of the train engine who cannot get down in time should quickly cross their arms to protect their necks and brace for the impact.
2. When in the Aisle
Lie on the ground, face down, with your feet pointing toward the direction of the train’s front, hands protecting the back of your head, feet braced against any solid object, and knees bent.
3. When in the Restroom
If you have time to react, forget about whether you’ve finished using the toilet or pulled up your pants, or whether your hands are clean—act immediately: sit on the ground, facing away from the direction of the train’s front, knees bent, hands protecting the back of your head.
4. When Outside the Train
If you see a train approaching a vehicle that’s been hit, a car stuck on the tracks, or notice troublemakers placing obstructions on the rails, you can signal the train to stop.
If there are no nearby red lights or red flags, an acceptable stopping signal is to stand in a safe spot, face the oncoming train, and wave your crossed hands overhead. At night, you can frantically wave any bright light (of any color) as the train approaches.
If you see any obstacles on the tracks, you should immediately notify the railway authorities. If you know that a train may be approaching soon (because you live nearby or hear a distant train whistle), and if you are able to move the objects yourself, do so right away.
When you find yourself on the tracks, you might panic at the approaching train but not know which track it will use, and you have no indicators to rely on to determine this. In such a case, do not attempt to lie down in the space between the active tracks (some people have been known to sleep there). Instead, lie down in the clear space between two adjacent tracks.
Emergency Safety Measures in the Event of a Train Accident
Train accidents are relatively rare in China, but vigilance should never be relaxed. Typically, there are two types of train accidents: collisions with other trains or derailments. When a train accident occurs, it is almost impossible to avoid injury entirely, but you can take certain protective measures to minimize harm. Signs of a derailment include sudden braking, violent shaking, and the carriage tilting to one side.
In the moment you realize a train accident is occurring, take the following actions:
If you are seated facing the direction of travel, immediately bend your elbows, hold your head, and press your face against the seat cushion in front of you to protect your face, or quickly turn your head to the side and lie down while protecting your head.
If you are seated with your back to the direction of travel, immediately use both hands to protect the back of your head, and bend your body while raising your knees to shield your chest and abdomen.
In the event of an accident, if your seat is not near a window or door, stay in your seat, grab onto something sturdy, or lean back against the seat. Lower your head with your chin tucked tightly to your chest to protect it from injury. If your seat is close to a window or door, leave as quickly as possible and grab onto something solid inside the train.
If you are sitting or standing in the aisle, face the direction of travel, use both hands to protect the back of your head, crouch down, and brace for impacts or falling objects that could injure your head. If the car is not crowded, lie down on the floor with your feet pointing in the direction of travel, your hands protecting the back of your head, your knees shielding your abdomen, and your feet braced against a seat or wall. Be careful not to get stepped on.
If you are in the toilet, sit on the floor with your back against the wall in the direction of travel, hold your head with both hands, bend your elbows, and raise your knees to protect your abdomen.
After an accident, if you cannot open the door, push up the window or break the glass and crawl out feet first. But always be aware that broken glass is very dangerous. Once you’re sure you won’t be cut by glass, you may still face the risk of electric shock—rails can be electrified. If the car does not appear to be tilting or rolling further, staying inside and waiting for rescue is the safest option.
If you determine it's necessary to jump from the train to escape danger after it has stopped, be mindful of oncoming trains and use the correct jumping method. After jumping, evacuate quickly and do not linger around the train, as this can lead to other dangers.
After leaving the train, try to notify rescue personnel. If there is a set of signal lights nearby, there is usually a telephone under them that can be used to contact the signal control room. Alternatively, look for a telephone nearby to call for help.
When taking the subway or urban light rail in the city, do not lean against the doors; try to move toward the middle of the carriage. In the event of a collision, the ends of the carriage and areas near the doors are particularly dangerous.
After an accident, follow all instructions, as the tracks carry electricity. You must wait until train staff announce that the power has been cut before evacuating.
To summarize, the key steps for self-rescue in the event of a train accident are: never jump off a moving train; immediately protect your head and chest when an accident occurs; once you are sure the carriage has stopped moving, leave the train under the guidance of relevant personnel, pay attention to the condition of the tracks, and never remain on them.