Originally Posted by
anacapamalibu
Depends on the type of cab signaling system in use.
As the news report indicated, the train driver manually triggered the emergency brake.
Could have been the automatic stop system failed or the system
relies on the driver to stop the train. Didn't appear from the photos
that the train impacted at full speed, the drivers cab was somewhat intact.
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/to...rsrtr2p7lz.jpg
There probably would have been a lot less fatalities if the accident didn't occur
on a 50 ft tall bridge.
It is way way way way too late if it requires a driver to manually trigger a brake manually on a high speed or semi-highspeed train.
As for the bridge, a lot of the tracks on the high speed rail system are on viaducts or tunnels, so if an accident were to occur, chances of happening on a bridge is not insignificant.