Space storms could switch train signals and cause serious accidents
Trains entering and exiting London’s Clapham Junction Station Jack Taylor/Getty Images A number of electrical systems in the railways of many countries, including the UK, are vulnerable to space weather. In the worst case, a red signal could be turned green, potentially causing a deadly train crash, says Cameron Patterson at Lancaster University in the UK. “You could have disruptions to signalling systems, which are crucial to railway safety,” he says. “We have to prepare for these things now, and getting that message across, I think, is really important.” The sun is constantly blasting out charged particles, as well as light. This solar wind is what causes auroras. Sometimes, the sun emits more material than usual in what’s known as a solar storm, which can affect Earth’s magnetic field. The main danger is to satellites, but solar storms can also affect electrical systems on the ground because any change to a magnetic field can induce unexpected currents, including in railway tracks. That’s a problem because many railway systems rely on direct currents running through sections …
