External airbag assembly for a rail vehicle

A rail vehicle comprising:

• a body;
• an aesthetic end cap located at an end of said body;
• a removeable aesthetic body panel having an aesthetic surface adapted to complement said aesthetic end cap, said aesthetic body panel having a first connecting interface on an inside surface opposed said aesthetic surface;
• an airbag assembly located behind and proximate said aesthetic body panel, the airbag assembly having:
• a housing having an opening, said housing defining a cavity therein;
• an airbag placed inside said cavity;
• at least one vessel containing a pressurized fluid, said at least one vessel being fluidly connected to said airbag;
• and
• a lid adapted to removably close said opening, said lid being attached to said airbag so that said lid is located at a bottom portion of said airbag when said airbag is fully deployed, said lid having a second connecting interface on an external face of said lid opposed said cavity, said second connecting interface being compatible with said first connecting interface so as to be capable of attaching to said first connecting interface,
• wherein, upon deployment of said airbag by said pressurized fluid, said lid engages said aesthetic body panel through said first and said second connecting interfaces interconnecting together, said aesthetic body panel ending up being located underneath said airbag when said airbag is fully inflated so as to prevent said airbag from wearing against a surface over which the rail vehicle travels.