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 and how far?

11. How many passengers can a train take every year?

12. What is the maximum amount of carriages a train can carry?

13. What is the biggest train you have sent to somewhere?

14. How many wheels does a train have? Does it have wheels?

15. How many years does a train last before it rusts and doesn’t work?

16. Is there a weight limit?

17. What would happen if a train tipped over?

18. Can we see a train today?

19. How many train drivers do you need?

20. How much weight does a carriage take up?

21. Do you think train drivers are at risk of being replaced by technology?

22. How are drivers trained?

More at https://www.learnz.org.nz/railsafety203