Widow glad MBTA to get defibrillators

Commuter rail workers trained to use devices

Marlene Allen stood off to the side yesterday at South Station as transportation officials described a new program that will place automated external defibrillators on 84 MBTA commuter rail trains. Her husband, Dr. James R. Allen, died in 2002 after suffering a heart attack on a train that lacked a defibrillator, a device used to revive cardiac arrest victims.

"I'm just pleased this day has come," Allen said after the press conference. "It's unfortunate that it takes a death to make this kind of change."

Allen has been working since her husband's death to persuade the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to install the defibrillators.

She also won a $3.9 million settlement from the MBTA and Amtrak, which used to have the contract to run MBTA commuter service.

When her husband was stricken, the conductor stopped at three stations over 20 minutes, but did not promptly summon medical help.

"He paid a dear price, but I'm so glad they're here today," Marlene Allen said yesterday.

Allen pointed to the case of another Wellesley man who had died in an airplane in the 1990s, prompting airlines to install the devices.

"They're about six years apart and six blocks apart," she said.

"Clearly," she said, "it saves lives."

The Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Co. is also giving conductors and assistant conductors four hours of training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillator use on adults and children.

To date, 140 employees have been trained and 30 defibrillators have been installed, officials said.

"MBCR has worked closely with the MBTA to provide this important life safety equipment which will improve safety for commuter rail customers," said Richard A. Davey, the commuter railroad company general manager, in a statement. Defibrillators "are a proven technology that can save somebody's life in the event of sudden cardiac arrest."

Noah Bierman can be reached at nbierman@globe.com.