Anyone read or watch on the news, the breakdown of a D C Metro train, in a tunnel, 900 ft outside a station. It was a smoky mess and there was a death, apparently from respiratory distress. Rescue didn't arrive for about an hour. Many passengers self evacuated down the track , to a vent shaft and up 3-4 flights of stairs. The balance were led back to the station, by FF's, out of a darkened tunnel. The power had been cut to insure 3rd rail was "off".

Living in N Y Metro area, this is a real concern. Same re tall building evac. It's why even my small urban kit has Xcaper mask, swim googles, light Nomex/ Kevlar gloves and the smallest Pietzl button cell head lamp. It has finally dawned on me that I should know a bit more regarding where the third rail is located , testing to see if it's live ( throwing my SS pen on it, fom a few feet awy?) and how far apart escape points are located. NOTE TO SELF FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION.