Is collission of train possible?

Question

if one train stop due to emergency break what will happen to the train behind, will it stop too?

Answer 1

there's a minimum distance between trains so the train behind would be stopped at a red light or kept at the last station.

Answer 2

yes   well hopefully it will stop.  they are all in contact via radio and computer.  they have wrecked when this happens tho

Answer 3

There are signals to avoid one train ":rear ending" another but like any other man made system, it can and will fail.

And, sadly some collisions are human error, there can and shouild be better systems in place but they are horrendously expensive.

The technology exists, it isn't perfect but what system is?

Answer 4

Yes...it happens all the time....Type in train wrecks on youtube and you'll see

Answer 5

Our signal system is designed to space out the distance between trains to keep that from happening.If it did happen it was because the signal system failed or the engineer failed to heed the stop signal.Some places we call dark territory have no signals.The the train dispatcher grants authority to trains to use the track between certain points to keep spacing between trains.But sometimes things do go wrong.In a perfect world all trains would have automatic train control to stop trains in the event the engineer didn't react to a signal to stop.

Answer 6

I understand there is a system in Sweden where the trains (passenger and freight) are in constant communication.

If there is a problem both trains will automatically stop.

There has not been a collision in 20 years, but crossing accidents are still a problem.

Answer 7

Correct.  The following train doesn't get clearance to enter a section of track until the other train is already past.  Trains cannot "tailgate" like cars.

What if the train is coming up to the section at 100mph?  It wouldn't do that, and here's how that works.    

Take a typical signal system.  If it gives a green signal, the next 3 sections are clear.  If a flashing yellow, the next 2 sections are clear and the third is not!  So the train must reduce speed to, say, 60 mph.   A hard yellow means the next section is clear and the second is not.  Immediate speed reduction to 30 mph, and prepare to stop at the end of this section.   Because most likely the next section will be red - section occupied.  

Just as likely, you'll get up to the next section and find it hard yellow - the train was there but has moved on.  Okay, then you proceed at 30 mph and get ready to stop.  Meanwhile the train ahead is accelerating, and you find the next signal flashing yellow.  Okay, you accelerate, not to exceed 60 like the rule says.   You might be "eating his yellows" for miles and miles, or he might pull ahead enough that you get greens for awhile.

Answer 8

its not impossible

Answer 9

The tracks are divided in so-called "blocks" or "interlockings", with only one train allowed in a block at any time. The blocks are either seperated by signals (which in most countries also communicate with the engine to e.g. stop the train if the driver ignores a signal) or - on branch lines with few traffic - at least "logically" supervised by the "movements inspector".

Additionally at least on main-lines the switches and signals are connected in a way that the switches cannot be set to form interfering routes and the signals can only show 'proceed' if all the switches are set correctly.

So in theory train accidents should be impossible. But like with every human-made system there are errors... at least when it comes to railroad safety there must typically occur more the one error at the same time to cause an accident (e.g. the driver must ignore a stop-signal *and* the automatic train stop must fail at the same time) - so train travels stays the most secure form of overland traffic.