Had the driver implemented the correct and full procedure of applying the combined train brake the locomotive would have remained firmly stopped regardless of the leak.
The rules are based on the fact the equipment is not going to be perfect and by applying both loco and train combined brake it ensures the brakes won't leak off (once the locomotive engine is still running). Its the combination of rules and multiple systems that are there to protect from an accident, no one single error should result in a critical state.
There are two critical issues, a proper brake test would have revealed the leak (probably missed by several drivers), combined brake should have been applied.
Even in perfect condition if you apply the loco brake only the brake will gradually bleed off, just at a very very slow rate that's why there is a hand or more correctly parking brake (as its not longer applied by hand on most trains)
The whole things is typical corner cutting with a lack of proper training and supervision and a failure to follow maintenance procedures and dates, that said the locomotive was well within the distance limits on its brakes
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