[londons_explore]

> So if we have three trains in close succession and the first derails or loses power, the second is not allowed stop because there's a train behind it?

The second is allowed to follow the 'train ahead derailed' plan, which presumably will involve stopping at a rate that the third train can also achieve.

If comms is maintained during the event, new plans can also be made that are maybe better (eg. maybe try to brake harder than the guaranteed minimum braking)

[corobo]

Instead of a derailed train and a couple delayed trains you now have a derailed train and a couple of trains with flat wheels that also need clearing up (assuming they avoided slamming into each other)

Definitely not sold on the "let's chuck out the failsafe method of railwaying" idea, haha

[febusravenga]

Interesting. Never thought about that, but are you saying that emergency brake on train tears wheels so much that it's not able operate normally? Interesting learn.

(the whole thread started by overconfident guy with unrealistic ideas ended as very informative, so actually net plus, who would thought)

[corobo]

Aye as the sibling comment says it's not guaranteed to happen, I'm considering the worst case scenario outside of collision (needing to move trains that can no longer move themselves, needing to offload and transport stranded passengers, causing further delay, etc)

For what it's worth overconfident guy kicked off an interesting conversation!

It's also quite possible that I'm overcautious and the future will have trains within braking distance of each other and it turns out to be no big deal.

Thoroughly enjoyed thinking about the scenario in any case. Some proper Hacker News brain tickling in this thread :)

[p_l]

While it won't guarantee such level of destruction, emergency braking generally involves breaking beyond normal usability limits - including allowing for effective destruction of components in process