Well people ALWAYS bitch about how the UK is the most expensive railway in Europe, and one of the reasons is the safety systems that we have.
SAFETY COSTS
I would never say that an accident like this couldn't happen here (some Safety Industry experts reckon that we're due for a big one soon) but we
do have TPWS.
In most locations where there is a Permanent Speed reduction of over 33% there is a set of TPWS Overspeed Sensor Loops located on the approach, and they are permanently energised.
If a train travelling at or above the trigger speed passes over the loops, the onboard equipment will fire an Emergency Brake Application. In most traction types the brakes will not release until after the train has come to a stand. And the OSS loops are placed sufficiently far in the rear of the PSR to ensure that the train has slowed suffficiently to be compliant with the speed reduction.
HTH, BW
PS - Lady Gaga has just drawn my attention to a report which states that the train may have been struck by a flying object, and increased in speed. Hmmm, fascinating.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by BBC
Investigators said the train sped up from 70mph (113km/h) to over 100mph in the minute before hitting the sharp bend.
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Linky here...http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-32757113