let's do a simple calculation

Assume:

1. Train speed: 60mph = 27m/s
2. totally inelastic collision  (thanks to the soft body of the car)

 

then we can get the lateral acceleration that car/human  subjected:

if impact duration is 0.3s : 27/0.3 = 90m/s2 = 10G

if impact duration is 0.2s : 27/0.3 = 135m/s2 = 13.5G

人所能承受的橫向加速度參見圖中的黃線。所以左側兩個人可以生存。右側由於車輛變形而沒有機會。

由於火車質量遠遠大於小車，這種碰撞類似於撞牆試驗。小車，軟車對成員的保護較好。

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-force