Notbremsverbindung

Notbremsverbindung, literally “emergency brake connection,” is a safety concept in railway technology. It denotes a direct link between the braking systems of connected rail vehicles that allows an emergency braking command to be transmitted quickly from one unit to the others in a train formation.

Historically and in various systems, the Notbremsverbindung could be a mechanical cord, a pneumatic line, or an electrical circuit running along the length of the train. When an emergency brake is activated—by a passenger, a crew member, or an automatic safety device—the Notbremsverbindung triggers braking across all linked vehicles. This ensures rapid deceleration and helps maintain the integrity of the train during an emergency.

In modern rolling stock, the Notbremsverbindung is one element within broader train protection and braking concepts. Today’s emphasis is often on centralized safety systems such as European Train Control System (ETCS) or national train protection schemes, but emergency brake connections remain in use for legacy equipment, certain regional services, or specific operational contexts. The exact implementation and terminology can vary by country, operator, and vehicle type, with some systems relying primarily on other forms of emergency braking transmission while still retaining a Notbremsverbindung as a redundancy or compatibility feature.

See also: emergency braking, train protection systems, railway safety equipment.