Re: Metrolink derailment in Oxnard.
Author: mook
Date: 02-25-2015 - 21:54
I don't think it would work on a regular railroad due to different speeds, weights, stopping distance, etc., but some light rail systems hold the train in a station until all or at least the first few (in a long stretch with timed progression) grade crossings to the next station are fully activated. In the long runs, there's sometimes an intermediate signal that would be dropped to yellow or red if there were a problem with an upcoming crossing (such as gate down on a car or broken through). Key point, I think, is that light rail does stop much more quickly than normal trains, so it's sometimes even possible to stop from full speed in short-term visual range of a problem crossing which with a train it's probably not. Humans being the addled chimps they are, of course, there are still occasional grade crossing wrecks - if you make something idiot-proof it selects for better idiots.