What is a potential consequence of decreased performance in a traction system?

Decreased performance in a traction system can lead to potential system failure because the efficiency and reliability of the entire system become compromised. When performance drops, it might indicate that critical components are not functioning optimally due to wear, insufficient maintenance, or other operational issues. This can cause strain on the system, leading to overload conditions, overheating, or even mechanical failures.

If a traction system is not delivering the required power or responsiveness, it can fail to meet operational demands, resulting in safety risks, unexpected downtimes, and potentially hazardous situations if trains do not stop when expected or struggle to accelerate. This highlights the importance of maintaining performance to ensure safety and reliability in rail operations. Other options, such as increased train speed or improved environmental impact, do not align with the consequences of decreased performance, as they would typically relate to enhanced rather than diminished functionality.