Where is the safest seat on a train if it were to ever crash?

Question

This does not include the driver's seat if anyone wants to be witty!!

Answer 1

Strangely enough, this is impossible to answer.

If it is a front-end collision, then you need to be in the back. But if it is a rear-end collision, then you need to be in the front. And, if the collision is side on (as it was at Ladbroke Grove), then the middle of the train should be avoided.

However, since most collisions involve sharp de-acceleration, then if you sit with your back to the direction of travel, then, instead of being thrown forward during the de-acceleration, you will be pushed back into your seat. (You just have to contend with the passenger sitting opposite to you falling into your lap!)

Answer 2

The safest seat would be in the carriage furthest from impact if that were the type of crash. If it was a derailment then all are equally at risk. We are told in training that if you are heading for impact then to get out of the drivers seat and get into at least the 2nd carriage, then to sit on the floor with your back against any fixed object and to face the rear of the train.
Just for info for the poster above who thinks that drivers are never injured - what a load of tosh. Drivers rarely walk away from a serious accident, the reason you never hear of driver injuries/deaths is that the media do not place any importance on the life of a driver, of ANY public transport.

Answer 3

There is no such thing as the safest seat on a train except for the cab of the locomotive, which isn't to be mentioned.

The reason for this is the definition of "crash", front end, back end, side of a car, etc.
I'll give a scenario of each:

Front End: Two Trains head on collision may depend on how fast, and the number of cars involved.
-In this case if the rear of the train didn't derail then the back seat was the safest.

Back End: Another train collides into the back of your train.
Once again it all depends on speed and numbers of cars.
-In this case the car behind the locomotive was the safest.

Side Collision: A train or vehicle ignores a signal or crossing gates and slams into the side of your train.
-In this case no car is exactly safe.

So if you think you'll be safe at the rear or front end, you should think again!

The only chance you may have is in the Engineers' seat if it wasn't a head on incident!

Answer 4

Statistically a British (or indeed European) railway carriage is one of the safest places to be. Rather safer than any other form of transport (including walking) - so I shouldn't let it worry you too much! It's certainly safer than staying at home (all sorts of fatal accidents happen here).
In the unlikely event that there is a crash, most modern railway carriages are immensely strong. There have been instances of 100 MPH derailments in which nobody has been seriously hurt. Of course in the event of a collision at high speed it's different - but I repeat, statistically this is unlikely to happen.

Answer 5

studies have been done and if you sit forward facing and the carriage stops at 30 mph you would be thrown forward with a force of about 3 tonnes and still in a seated position until you are stopped by something solid like a seat your knees hit the seat throw you forward and your forehead hits the seat and breaks your neck.
un less you sit rear facing then you are pushed back in to the padding of the seat but when a train crashes i would want to be on my sofa watching it on television

Answer 6

modern UK carraiges are immensly strong and have survived some immense crashes relativly intact. General advice is to read the safety information provided either on posters around the train or on safety cards by your seat, so that you know how to release the doors and leave the train.

Answer 7

In the event of a collision the front end would be smashed up, the rear end would most likely be whipped round, so the safest part will be somewhere in the middle of the train.

Answer 8

Generally speaking, any seat at the back carriage is safer, of course because at the time of crash each carriage sequesncially absorbs some of the crash energy!! so the further back the carriage is, the lesser the impact of the crash!!!

Answer 9

As others have said, it entirely depends on the nature of the crash. Assuming it's a "normal" front or rear collision, rather than a sideswipe, however, roughly in the middle with your back to the direction of travel is statistically the best place due to inertia.

Answer 10

Sit in the middle. Your train may hit something ahead or be struck from behind. It can derail however, in which case there is no seat safer than another.