Again BW thanks for all the info. I too am now more aware of modern technological facts.
It is getting safer all the time as things evolve. It still could be just about foolproof but it would cost so much.
Anyway thanks again
Cheers
Phil

After watching the TV programme the other night, it seems that whilst the driver was "on the phone" to another train crew member there were other factors involved.

The train was a "Hybrid" ...... not a true HST.

The electric power cars at each end were suplimented by a heavy diesel power car after and before each one. These it seems, had a higher centre of gravity than the rest of the train and came off the rails first due to its overspeed, dragging the rest of the train with it.

So, it seems that various factors were involved. One thing that wasn't mentioned however (apart from the lack of ERTS) safety system was: Given that on that section of track which had no working HST signaling and safety equipment was present.

I thought:.....The driver was being distracted by a phone call from a member of the crew. Under these circumstances, shouldn't this driver have had a second man with him?

Who decided and enforced the fact that he did not?

Would you be happy with just one pilot in your next flight?

Unfortunately I didn't see the program. I 'd heard within the rail industry that the driver was rung by his controller to advise him on details of the route. On the recording it there is the sound of a map being rustled. There has been a suggestion that the driver's route knowledge may have been lacking for the non High Speed route. This is significant since the train's speed was clearly the primary cause for the derailment.

Once again, I don't know about foreign railways but the requirement for double manning under normal circumstances in the UK disappeared when the railway was privatised. The only time here that we have a 'competent person' in the cab with the driver is to examine the line in a tunnel, or when certain safety systems have been isolated, eg AWS, TPWS, DSD, Vigilance, etc.

And a competent person is just an employee who has been shown how to apply the Emergency Brake.

Otherwise it is against the rules in the UK to have anyone else in the cab with the driver if they are not there in the course of their duties - including another driver !