Starting with an analysis of collision accidents on the European railways, the author answers the question as to whether or not there is any need to act, considering that the accident risk for railway passengers and employees is very much lower than for other modes of transport. He shows that by building further on safety inside conventional rail vehicles, the means are now available for improving crashworthiness still further. The interactions between the active and passive safety of the railway viewed as a system and the interrelationships between the endurance strength and crashworthiness of rail vehicles are assessed as key criteria for suitable technical solutions. Using the results that have so far emerged from the joint EU/UIC project, SAFETRAIN, the author proceeds to report on the current state of development as regards crashworthy vehicle structures and components.
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