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Trains know when to go thanks to their timetable, and the signalling system. The timetable tells a train which tracks to take and which stations to stop at. The signalling system enforces the route that the train goes down and prevents trains from crashing into each other.

Trains turn around by reversing their direction at the end of the line, or by detaching the locomotive and running the locomotive to the other end of the carriages. Trains need to turn around quickly to keep serving customers. We look at how trains turn around and why it's important.

Rail systems is the term used for all the systems that support the operation of a train service. This is a distinct term given to the parts of the train line that are not the civil structures which train lines are built on. I put together this guide to common rail systems, such as rolling stock, to help people understand this term.

A train driver knows when to stop the train because the train is approaching a stop signal, or the train is approaching a platform. The driver knows when to apply the brakes thanks to many hours of experience studying and driving the route under supervision. Markers can be found on station tracks to help the driver line up the doors, and red stop signals often stop a train automatically if it moves past.

We analysed 8 train configurations to show that freight trains take 1848 meters and 77 seconds on average to stop, while passenger trains can stop in 731 meters (2400ft) and 46 seconds.