A trailer braking system for a towing vehicle has a trailer braking valve (26) is fed with a pressurised air supply which is modulated by the opening of the valve, as controlled by a first control pressure regulated by a trailer braking controller (24) in accordance with braking demand signals, to produce a trailer braking pressure. In order that a trailer braking pressure may be generated even if the above trailer braking valve control fails, the valve is supplied with a second control pressure independently of the first, and which is also capable of operating the trailer braking valve (26). In a preferred embodiment, the second control pressure is supplied from a braking line of the towing vehicle, such that the "back up" control pressure is a function of the towing vehicle braking.