The effect of storms

The latest storms - Dudley, Eunice and Franklin - caused many (if not most) rail lines to close down (RAIL 952).

If climate change means that an increased number of such storms are to be expected, measures must be taken to reduce their effect on rail services.

The recent accident at Salisbury has highlighted the effect of lineside trees, which were allowed to grow after steam traction was superseded. Lineside trees felled by strong wind must be a major element in rail closures.

Also, the vulnerability of overhead line equipment, both to tree debris and strong winds, causes cessation of services. Thirdrail electrification suffers less from this.

It would be of interest if anyone has comparative figures for closure during high winds of overhead electrified lines and third-rail electric services. Do operations on Merseyrail, the old Southern Region and Transport for London (excluding Overground and Tramlink) have less downtime through storms than those with the overhead electrified lines (including the Tyne and Wear Metro)?

Is third-rail electrification, perhaps under-running like the Docklands Light Railway, a better way to future-proof railways than overhead lines?

Nigel Pennick, Bar Hill, Cambridge