According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):
Dear Roosevelt Island Community:
Please be advised that Tram service will be affected the morning of Sunday, October 12th from 6AM to 11AM to accommodate a state mandated training session for all Tram operators and personnel.
While the training is taking place, one cabin will be out of service and one cabin will operate on its normal weekend schedule, servicing passengers at each station every 15 minutes. The second cabin will resume service once the training is complete, so please plan your morning travel accordingly.
Please do not be alarmed if you see rescue activity or personnel conducting drills during this time—it is only a drill.
Regular cabin attendants will be on hand to alert riders of the ensuing training. In addition to the greater-than-normal amounts of Tram personnel, during the training, you can expect higher noise volumes on and around the Roosevelt Island station.
Thank you for your understanding.
-RIOC Transportation
Here’s a 2013 photo of a Tram Rescue Drill. Watch out, that first step out of the cabin is a doozy.
Also, here’s FDNY Fire Chief Richard Blatus describing a 2014 Tram Rescue Drill
and WCBS reporter Chris Wragge who participated in the drill describes that first step out of the Cabin.
Watch as FDNY personnel slide down the cable from Tram Tower to the top of Tram Cabin
and practice lowering Tram passengers to the ground
during previous drills.
UPDATE 10/19. Here are scenes from the October 12 Tram Rescue Drill.