Re: Near miss at Victoria (London)

[jjjim <jjjim@bigpond.com>]

hehe makes much more sense

Christine Hope wrote:

> I must point out that the press were wrong yet again!
>
> The Signaller only cut the power to the Third Rail because he thought that
> the trains were going to collide and an accident occur, not to prevent the
> collision as the trains would have continued to coast along without power.
>
> Christine
>
> "David McLoughlin" <davemcl@NO***damned***SPAMiprolink.co.nz> wrote in
> message 3a54256a@news.iprolink.co.nz">news:3a54256a@news.iprolink.co.nz...
> > james_shugg@my-deja.com wrote:
> >
> > > A major signal failure at Victoria station caused big delays last night
> > > (2/1). All signals were at red, and drivers were being told
> > > individually to pass them. However two packed, late trains left at the
> > > same time from different platforms on converging tracks, and only the
> > > quick action of a signaller who issued a verbal "Stop!" command to all
> > > trains in the vicinity, and cut power to the trains (they were both
> > > sparks), averted a collision. According to media reports, the trains
> > > had reached about 15mph, but ended stopping about 15 metres apart.
> > >
> > > Can signallers on the various Australian electric systems cut power to
> > > trains like that, on the basis of a split second decision?
> >
> > I don't think so.
> >
> > AFAIK, electric trains in (at least) Sydney and Melbourne can be stopped
> > if they go through a red  by a "train stop arm" beside the track which
> > applies the brakes.
> >
> > From what I recall about the various UK crashes, the train tracks around
> > London don't have these "train stop arms," one reason there have been so
> > many bad crashes when trains go through the red.
> >
> > I stand to be corrected and would like to know more.