Light Rail, Emergency Tests Run On West Line

LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4)- Light rail cars were seen along the West Rail Line in Lakewood on Thursday morning.

The light rail line from Union Station to the Jefferson County government buildings will begin carrying passengers on April 26.

West Metro Firefighters teamed up with RTD to run an emergency drill on the new line.

West Metro had crews along the line where it runs down 12th between Alison and Zephyr to practice how to handle crashes involving the train.

RTD said safety is its first priority.

"RTD has trained over 800 first responders in areas that light rail runs through. We've trained them on the line as we see today and also in our yard," said RTD spokeswoman Lisa Trujillo. "We've also worked with them to make a training DVD for them to take back to use as well."

RTD said training on the West Line is especially important because light rail is new for those first responders and they have to adapt to new technologies involved in accidents.