Spanish train crash.

[mikef]

A chap on the radio today said that the carriages on this particular train only have one set of wheels at the front with the rear of the carriage sitting on the front of the carriage behind. I hope that makes sense.  He maintained that this would have meant that the carriages would not have been as stable as normal ones and would have left the track more easily.

 

I know nothing about trains but that seems a weird set up and how do they detach carriages and move them around?

 

Anyone know if he is correct?

[bhouse]

 

I know nothing about trains but that seems a weird set up and how do they detach carriages and move them around?

 

 

Sharing wheels between carriages makes a train cheaper, faster to load and able to offer greater capacity.

The carrriages stay in "train sets" meaning that you can't uncouple one coach and move it around. If one has a problem the entire set has to be taken out of service.

They're becoming increasingly popular in Europ.

[Norman Verona]

Sounds like the way artics have the prime mover connected to the trailer. Nowadays they're all fifth wheel couplings but there used to be Scammel couplings as well.

[XTR2Turbo]

Sharing wheels between carriages makes a train cheaper, faster to load and able to offer greater capacity.

The carrriages stay in "train sets" meaning that you can't uncouple one coach and move it around. If one has a problem the entire set has to be taken out of service.

They're becoming increasingly popular in Europ.

The channel tunnel is like this.  I thought they were safer as less likley to 'jack knife' following a collision