wrote:
On Tue, 16 Aug 2016 11:23:28 -0500
wrote:
Can the drivers of 200mph expresses see far enough ahead to be able to
have any material ability to slow or stop the train if they see an
obstruction or track problem?
They can't see far enough ahead to do anything useful to avoid a tractor on
an occupation crossing as at Roudham.
Useful like what, steer out the way?
I'm curious that a lot of people on this group seem to believe that the
speed a train hits something makes no difference. 100mph, 200mph , who cares
eh? All the same.
The speed reduction with a high speed train will be trivial. By the time
the driver spots the obstruction, and decides to brake, the train will
almost be on top of it. At 320km/h, the train will have moved about 100m
before the driver can even start to brake. There may be some latency in the
braking, so by the time the full brake application starts, the train may
well have travelled another 100m.
So if the obstruction was only 200m away, the train may still be travelling
at full speed. Even if it was 500m away, the speed will probably still be
close to 300 km/h. The driver would be best advised to retreat from the
cab and move further back in the train in the few seconds before the crash,
though the power car or driving car is highly likely to be thrown off the
tracks, and if it hits anything head-on, the damage will be catastrophic.
Slowing the train from 320km/h to a bit less will make almost no
difference. So at least one less life would be at risk if there was no
driver in the cab.
Where the driver might be needed is during slow speed manouvres near
stations, not the high speed sections of the line.