Core Education

The following questions about rail and rail safety in New Zealand are answered by John who organises Auckland trains: 1. Our country is long and thin with two main islands and lots of mountain ranges so is it difficult for us to have a safe rail system? 2. Is it safer to be a passenger on a train or to drive a car? 3. How are modern trains designed to help keep train passengers safe in the event of a collision or a derailment or a fire? 4. Like on planes, are there emergency procedures for trains? What are they? Are there signs to educate passengers? 5. Why do you think people don’t go on trains more? Do you think it is more about convenience than safety? 6. Who are the main players in rail safety and what are their roles e.g. passengers, train drivers, KiwiRail? 7. How is good rail infrastructure important from a safety point of view? Is technology helping? 8. How do you stop a train? Is there a brake? 9. How many people can a train carry? What is the weight a train can carry? 10. How fast can a train go a