Exercise "Dark Dragon" was a live, multi-agency exercise which took place on Sunday 06 July 2008. The scenario was a train "incident" within the Caerphilly Rail Tunnel and included the "evacuation" of injured persons using the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service's "Unimog" road/rail vehicle.

The main Control Point for the exercise was at Lisvane Railway Station car park, where the Fire, Ambulance, Police, British Transport Police, WRVS and others set up Command and Control vehicles, Casualty Clearing Point and refreshment service. Arriva Trains Wales provided an exercise train.

South Glamorgan and Gwent RAYNET Groups were invited to participate though not directly with the exercise scenario; RAYNET were on hand to provide communications if any of the Agencies encountered difficulties with their own systems. RAYNET established a wide-area communications network involving Police HQ (Cwmbran), S.Wales Ambulance Controls at Mamhilad and Church Village as well as a link to the SWFRS HQ in Pontyclun. Two Talk-Through Units (repeaters) were active; one on Twmbarlwm mountain (Risca) and the other at Llanydeyrn (near Cardiff). Net Control was located at County Hall in Cardiff.

Initially, we encountered difficulties in establishing contact with the radio operators located at Ambulance Control in Mamhilad. This was unexpected as, previously, we had conducted radio tests to and from this location with satisfactory results. However, it has since been suggested that, on the day of the tests, radio propagation was considerably more favourable than on the day of the exercise.

During the course of the exercise, it became apparent that the Fire Service were encountering difficulties with their communications from Lisvane to the Fire Service Personnel at the North end of the Tunnel. RAYNET members prepared to relocate to assist with this radio link, but it was subsequently discovered that there were technical problems affecting the operation of the "Unimog" vehicle, and the Exercise Controller decided to withdraw the Unimog from the exercise. Unfortunately, after further discussions, the Exercise Controller announced "Endex" and RAYNET's redeployment did not take place.

All in all, it was a very worthwhile exercise for RAYNET, especially with the opportunity to show our wide-area net in operation to staff from the Police and Fire Service.

Our thanks go to Network Rail for inviting RAYNET to participate, along with thanks to all of the RAYNET members from the South Glamorgan and Gwent Groups who participated.

[GW7BSC]