What is this?

[whole diary]

[bobm]

Not a rhetorical question.

Saw this along the wall by platform one at Reading Station.   Presumably something to do with electrification?  Or is it a primitive electric fence to stop tresspassers?

[paul7575]

I suspect it’s mainly anti trespass.  On the other side of that wall they’ve effectively left a higher level terrace above the wall at pavement level, that faces the taxi rank and drop off roads etc.  Although it’s gated off at the western end near the staff club, it wouldn’t be difficult to climb up to.

Paul

[stuving]

The cables are earthing or bonding, which is to do with the overhead 25 kV. I'm not sure whether it's strictly required in that position - the rules are quite complicated - or whether it's been done just in case.

[ChrisB]

I suspect it’s mainly anti trespass.  On the other side of that wall they’ve effectively left a higher level terrace above the wall at pavement level, that faces the taxi rank and drop off roads etc.  Although it’s gated off at the western end near the staff club, it wouldn’t be difficult to climb up to.

It was....in days before the station was done up, fare dodgers knew this was a way in without paying & were using it quite regularly...so it was fenced. In the days of FGW^▸ (First Great Western)

[Electric train]

The cables are earthing or bonding, which is to do with the overhead 25 kV. I'm not sure whether it's strictly required in that position - the rules are quite complicated - or whether it's been done just in case.

It could be "drop zone protection" (drop zone is where the OLE^▸ (Overhead Line Equipment, more often "OHLE") catenary can fall should it come detached from its supports and anchors), the wire in the terminating planforms are likely to be fixed tension "trolley wire" so I suspect it is more likely to be anti trespass, and to prevent anyone climbing on the wall from getting within the touch distance of live OLE and pantographs