What happens when a train's emergency brakes are activated?

There are multiple ways a train's emergency brakes can be activated. Find out more about how and why they are important in keeping riders safe.

[TrainsurfingMayhem]

1:04 "I'm a train"
wise words from the godly R160

[ItzYaboiTristanYT]

mta had enough with people pulling the cord 💀

[dxtxzbunchanumbers]

This is why the runaway train scene in Spider-Man 2 always ticked me off. Spider-Man didn't need to nearly die, someone just had to pull the emergency brake! That's without mentioning subway trains are built around "dead-man" brakes –the train only moves so long as the driver's actively at the controls.

[juoig]

In the UK, the emergency alarms on trains used to be connected to the emergency braking system. However, now, they set off an alarm in the cab. The driver will press a button which will activate the intercom, where a passenger could talk to the driver and describe the emergency.

If the driver does not dismiss the alarm within about ten seconds, the emergency brakes apply.


The emergency brakes can also be triggered if a driver doesn't dismiss the AWS horn in time.

The AWS is an alarm that is triggered when the train goes over a test magnet or over a treadle when the next signal is yellow or red.

Or if a driver passes a signal at danger (red). This is called a SPAD.

[tntcreeper]

Who threw a deflated basketball on the tracks☠️☠️

[zycklacon]

I’m glad the train actually looks accurate this time

[athanalconcel]

"WHO IN THE BLAZES APPLIED THAT EMERGENCY BRAKE?!"
- Tom Hanks, 2004

[Dezlite]

This video should be played in NYC High Schools for teenagers who just can't get their hands off the emergency cord...

[nascarandjeff]

Should have used the scene from Taking of Pelham 123 where the E brakes were tripped by the signal on the track to stop the runaway train haha.

[Bennett]

I've had the pleasure of informing my customers that we were delayed because a lady on the train in front of us pulled the cord because the train was taking to long to get to her stop.

[osagiee.guobadia-secondytc]

Thanks for a PSA video about emergency brakes, MTA. : )

[flyicestormpluto]

Great video on the use of emergency brakes! I learned something new today

[theofficialtrain]

Me: riding the (6) train in peace

Train:

[BJMediaTransit]

On October 29th of 2023, I was in R46 train car #5611 on the N train southbound and when stopping at 23rd Street, the train doors closed on someone’s dog and then the train was moving. Everyone was panicking and screaming “blood” and then I pounced out of my seat and pulled the train’s emergency brake to stop the train to alert the conductor. I almost thought it was a person’s arm caught in that door but it was someone’s dog caught in the door that everyone panicked about. Because the train had no intercoms to reach the conductor with, I had no choice but to use the emergency brake and sure enough the conductor responded ASAP to the situation. The delay lasted a total of 11 minutes.

[Andres-kohc]

The only time I was on a train when the emergency brakes was activated was July 2022, I was on G train to Flushing ave and when my the car got to 21st in Queens, my head got hit onto the cab door but I luckily didn't fell down and I was glad I wasn't bleeding. I was all good

[stcountryballs]

Also, something that has to do with the tripping device, it can be activated in dangerous situations. For example, a red light (train ahead), or excessive speed (if you have a special type of security system for this). Each traffic light has a lever that goes up in red, causing the emergency brake to be activated, and goes down in green, where the train has a clear path.

[collectivelyimprovingtrans]

I always wondered what it would be like to be on a train with emergency brake applied, but it’s never worth figuring out yourself

[adriancooper]

Seriously, the MTA needed to admonish the. General Public about putting themselves or any objects in the path of an oncoming train!!

[keitho.sylvan]

MTA just had gotten sick of the brakes being pulled by people.

[subwayfanminecrafttrainmta]

There also can be emg breaks when a overshoot station