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In principle only, if a barrier could keep a train on its side of the barrier, scraping along the barrier for a long distance instead of smashing headfirst into it, the energy could be dissipated over a long period of time, preventing fatalities. But what kind of barrier can withstand a train?

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This collision happened precisely because of unfortunate circumstance that break in the rail and derailment happened just before the switch leading to the opposite track. Without the "help" of the switch, carriages of the first train likely wouldn't have invaded the second track.

The tracks are less than 3m from each other, a derailed car doesn’t need to get very far to be a risk to incoming traffic.

if they are already doing a poor job maintaining their tracks, what gives you such confidence that they would maintain the barrier properly?

the more you build the more maintenance costs rise.

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