[persolb]

So I’m an engineer in the passenger rail industry who often reviews and has input into the HTL (hazard tracking log). Stopping the train is assumed 100% safe for passengers and crew.

(Edit: you might be able to find some of these online, as regulators sometimes publish them for comment if there is a waiver request… not going to dox myself though)

Your point about external grade crossing hazards is valid… but also completely avoidable unless the train is super long (IE: not a passenger train) or the train was already going slow (like just leaving a station or signal).

There are separate system safety plans to ensure that timely/safe evacuation is possible regardless of where the train stops.

In the absolutely worst case, this means coupling another train and waiting the ~30 mins for people to walk through the train to the new cars, then uncoupling.

[jacquesm]

You're an engineer in the passenger rail industry in Poland? If not then you probably will want to familiarize yourself with the state of Polish rail infra before commenting further. It's a small miracle they don't have more accidents than they already do.

The most recent major incident is two months ago:

https://apnews.com/article/poland-train-accident-1db1a088c31...

And there are plenty of others to choose from:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Railway_accidents_and...

There are only two countries in the EU that have worse rail infra than Poland (Romania, Bulgaria). Rolling stock is off mixed quality and vintage, maintenance spotty at best.

[nier]

What makes a stopped train on a track 100% safe in terms of other trains or locomotives that might be oncoming? Are signals and means of communication redundant in a way that there‘s no chance of a collision?

[Symbiote]

The signalling system is designed so there's no possibility of an oncoming (or path-crossing) train. On a modern system this is done with formal proof of the software, on an old system with mechanical interlocks.

[jacquesm]

Yes, and if you maintain it very well you will never have accidents. That's why Poland never has railway accidents, perfect maintenance and everything 'just works' /s.

[persolb]

That’s a bit of a tangent though. All of rail (even in Poland) is based on the assumption that stopped=safe.