A vehicle braking system for an individual wagon of a multiple wagon vehicle having a main brake control fluid pressure line which connects the wagons of the multiple wagon vehicle to control their brakes, the system comprising: a main control pressure conduit for connecting the braking system of the individual wagon to the main brake control fluid pressure line of the multiple wagon vehicle; a distributor having an inlet connected to a main control pressure conduit and produced a pressure on an outlet which pressure corresponds to the degree of desired brake application, whereby a reduction of pressure in the main control pressure conduit results in an increase in the outlet pressure representing the degree of desired brake application; a load controlled valve connected to the output of the distributor and to an input representing the loading of the wagon and arranged to produce an output braking pressure (C'), which for any degree of desired brake application is greater for greater wagon loads; a brake cylinder connected to the output of the load controlled valve to receive the output braking pressure and apply a corresponding braking force to the wagon; a kinked characteristic valve disposed between the load controlled valve and the brake cylinder and connected also to the distributor output, said kinked characteristic valve being arranged such that in a first operational state it regulates the pressure received by the brake cylinder with respect to the pressure output of the distributor to a preset ratio, and in a second operational state it provides an unimpeded connection between the load controlled valve and the brake cylinder; characterized in that the kinked characteristic valve has a further input connected to the main control pressure conduit, and is arranged such that said kinked characteristic valve operates in the first operational state when the pressure in the main control pressure conduit is above a given threshold, and transitions continuously from said first operational state towards said second operational state when the pressure in the main control pressure conduit decreases below the threshold. a main control pressure conduit for connecting the braking system of the individual wagon to the main brake control fluid pressure line of the multiple wagon vehicle; a distributor having an inlet connected to a main control pressure conduit and produced a pressure on an outlet which pressure corresponds to the degree of desired brake application, whereby a reduction of pressure in the main control pressure conduit results in an increase in the outlet pressure representing the degree of desired brake application; a load controlled valve connected to the output of the distributor and to an input representing the loading of the wagon and arranged to produce an output braking pressure (C'), which for any degree of desired brake application is greater for greater wagon loads; a brake cylinder connected to the output of the load controlled valve to receive the output braking pressure and apply a corresponding braking force to the wagon; a kinked characteristic valve disposed between the load controlled valve and the brake cylinder and connected also to the distributor output, said kinked characteristic valve being arranged such that in a first operational state it regulates the pressure received by the brake cylinder with respect to the pressure output of the distributor to a preset ratio, and in a second operational state it provides an unimpeded connection between the load controlled valve and the brake cylinder; characterized in that the kinked characteristic valve has a further input connected to the main control pressure conduit, and is arranged such that said kinked characteristic valve operates in the first operational state when the pressure in the main control pressure conduit is above a given threshold, and transitions continuously from said first operational state towards said second operational state when the pressure in the main control pressure conduit decreases below the threshold.