Thank the Lord no one was killed. Hopefully, the engineer with spinal injuries will make a
full recovery.
There are no features in common between the British HST and the QR Diesel Tilt Train, except that they each have a power car at each end, and have both suffered serious accidents. They are about the same size, and look vaguely similar.
The Briti***rain is diesel electric with one Paxman engine of about 2000HP per power car, the QR train is diesel hydraulic and has two MTU engines of about 1900HP per power car.
In New South Wales, the XPT trains have power cars like the British HST trains, (but larger) but they have different stainless steel trailer cars. These trains run to Brisbane from the South, (on standard gauge) while the Tilt Trains operate North of Brisbane (on narrow gauge).
In my opinion, given the possibility that the British and QR derailments occurred at similar speed, the QR stainless steel cars stood up rather well in comparison.
Peter
Just checked BBC webpage and found this
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4015453.stm
update on derailment