Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

Not every event that happens uses worst-case data. In any case, while I don't know the actual class of rail where this emergency stop happened, this wiki article[1] suggests that most mainline track in the US is class 4, which allows a max of 80mph for passenger trains.

Out of curiosity, why do you mix metric and imperial in the same context? Stopping distance in metric for a speed in imperial?

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_speed_limits_in_the_Unite...



British usage is a mess, they were the units I found. I didn't really think about it. I also can no longer find the table of stopping distances I found this morning.

The official rules for driving cars in Britain have the same daft combination of units: https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/559afb11e...


FWIW, the British railway still uses miles and chains for measure.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: