"The stretch of line had an automatic braking system designed to halt any train that passed a stop signal. It is not yet known why this failed to stop the crash." I wonder how Germany's fail-safe system differs from the U.S.'s Congressionally-mandated Positive Train Control, being installed at a cost of many Billions of dollars?
Someone at work made passing reference to the current "immigrant" situation going on in Germany and the possibility of someone purposely hacking the safety system to cause the accident. Paranoid? Maybe, but still possible.
Hopefully we'll know an investigation outcome. And if this is the cause, it won't be hidden. It is, unfortunately, very possible.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35539089 Looking at possibly the controller turning the system off?
Latest press release is saying Signaller error allowing two trains into section at same time. Couldn't happen if they stayed with token controlled block working. The single line sections we have locally look a bit archaic with the train driver having to physically lean out of the cab to collect and hand over token but god knows it still works after 150 years! I shot a fair bit of it back in 2011 and must get out again this summer and update it in better HD Kev
Yep, the most rudimentary and reliable "signal" system ever invented, surpassed only by the railroad with only one locomotive.
I never knew the Cumbrian lines were still operated with tokens. Such a simple method, but as you say, safe and reliable.
