Train wreck
Disaster involving one or more trains From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A train accident or train wreck is a type of disaster involving one or more trains. Train wrecks often occur as a result of miscommunication, as when a moving train meets another train on the same track, when the wheels of train come off the track or when a boiler explosion occurs. Train accidents have often been widely covered in popular media and in folklore.
 | It has been suggested that this article be merged with Classification of railway accidents. (Discuss) Proposed since January 2025. |
A head-on collision between two trains is colloquially called a "cornfield meet" in the United States.[1]
Causes
Train accidents can occur due to a range of factors, including one or more of the following:
- Human error – One of the leading causes of train accidents is human error. This can involve train operators failing to adhere to safety protocols, distraction, fatigue, impaired judgment, or inadequate training.
- Mechanical failures – Equipment malfunctions or failures, such as faulty brakes, defective signaling systems, or problems with locomotives or railcars, can contribute to train accidents.
- Track and infrastructure issues – Poorly maintained tracks, inadequate inspection procedures, or infrastructure deficiencies like weakened bridges or faulty switches can lead to accidents.
- Weather conditions – Severe weather conditions, including heavy rain, snowstorms, or extreme heat, can impact track conditions, visibility, and the overall safety of train operations.
- Sabotage - People can break, place something, intentionally set the switch to a collision course, destroy tracks, and this is called rail sabotage.[2]
- Attack - Anyone such as terrorists or shooters disrupted rail traffic such as bombing or shooting on a train.[3]
Train wreck gallery
- Train wreck in Rainy River District, Ontario, in the 1900s.
See also
- Lists of rail accidents
- Classification of railway accidents
- The crash at Crush, Texas, an intentional train wreck conducted as a publicity stunt
- Railway accident deaths
References
Further reading
External links
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