German train crash
Discussion
Digga said:
Likly to be one of two things really:
Looks quite a bad one, now the news is coming out. 10 people dead, many injured.- increect signalling, or
- driver error
Must have been quite awful for those on the trains; I travel a lot and it's often in the back of my mind "what if".
A bit early to conclude a cause though Digga, lots of possibilities for us to speculate on. In either case (signal or error) the automatic braking should have kicked in. In some systems the driver can override it, allowing for the (remote) possibility of another German suicide like the Alps aircraft.
M4cruiser said:
A bit early to conclude a cause though Digga, lots of possibilities for us to speculate on. In either case (signal or error) the automatic braking should have kicked in. In some systems the driver can override it, allowing for the (remote) possibility of another German suicide like the Alps aircraft.
Early, but given the way rail lines work, there's not too many variable. I suppose equipment failure; points or brakes is a further possibility.sirtyro said:
In this kind of accident is it better to be facing the opposite direction of travel?! Guessing inertia would carry a forward facing passenger further but all sounds terrible!
Yes, usually best to face backwards ... ... provided the seats are strong enough ... unless the train is hit from behind!
This is what happens if the seats don't contain you, this has been posted on the road crash thread and is a motor coach being hit from behind, the action starts at 59s and the bit with passengers being jettisoned rearwards out of their seats is from 1:14:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT65nwFPw6U
But I'd still rather face backwards on a train, I don't fancy being thrown forwards into the table in front of me.
Digga said:
Head-on on a single track. How was it not going to happen?
Likly to be one of two things really:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35585302Likly to be one of two things really:
- incorrect signalling, or YES
- driver error NO
[]quote=BBC]Human error by a train controller was to blame for a crash in Bavaria, Germany, last week that killed 11 people, prosecutors said.
V8 Fettler said:
Difficult to believe that a modern(ish) railway control system could allow such a catastrophic failure as a result of inadvertent human error by one person. The Victorians could design control systems to prevent similar.
Unless that human error was to turn off the protection system so one train could nip through before the other.BBC said:
The stretch of line had an automatic signalling system designed to halt any train that passed a stop signal.
But reports in German media suggested that the system had been switched off to let the eastbound train, which was running late, go past.
But reports in German media suggested that the system had been switched off to let the eastbound train, which was running late, go past.
maffski said:
V8 Fettler said:
Difficult to believe that a modern(ish) railway control system could allow such a catastrophic failure as a result of inadvertent human error by one person. The Victorians could design control systems to prevent similar.
Unless that human error was to turn off the protection system so one train could nip through before the other.BBC said:
The stretch of line had an automatic signalling system designed to halt any train that passed a stop signal.
But reports in German media suggested that the system had been switched off to let the eastbound train, which was running late, go past.
But reports in German media suggested that the system had been switched off to let the eastbound train, which was running late, go past.
If electric traction then link the auto signal system to the power system, no auto signal system = no power.
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