> without situational awareness, there is no good default behavior for a simple dead man handle on a hundreds ton train. Depending on the train system, engines

> without situational awareness, there is no good default behavior for a simple dead man handle on a hundreds ton train. Depending on the train system, engines to idle, medium level braking is probably a reasonable response if there is no operator detected. > These days though i wonder why we don't have [semi-]autonomous control there. This is likely the right question. Closed systems have all sorts of mechanisms to prevent overruns or at least reduce speed. Typically something sticking up from the track that will engage emergency brakes on all the cars when the train passes a certain point; and they can be controlled so that the post goes down if the train is has clearance and is traveling at a safe speed. I suspect NJ transit does not own all the rails their trains run on. A mandate for positive train control on rail lines keeps getting pushed back, but would likely have reduced the speed of this overrun.