level crossings and overhead electrification

[whole diary]

[BerkshireBugsy]

This question could actually be about any railway which is about to be electrified

On my frequent jouirney from Thatcham today I wondered what happens tpo level crossings when a line is to be electrified.

I don't know what clearance between road level and the overhead cabling but how does that height compare with , say, a double decker bus?

In thatcham the option to change to crossing into a bridge would be challenging to say the least so if height is an issue what happens


Dave

[paul7575]

OHLE^▸ (Over-Head Line Equipment (electrification via catenary)) is raised to a slightly greater height than normal over level crossings, (albeit within the ambit of a normal pantograph) and that height is well above whatever the 'low bridge' definition is, 16' 6" apparently after some research.   I think there might be some additional warning signs when wires are present, Google Street View should confirm either way.  For example here at Waterbeach, north of Cambridge, there are signs showing 'safe height 16' 6":  http://goo.gl/maps/xUZQ

It isn't a significant issue though, there are level crossings all over the AC^▸ (Alternating Current, or can mean Air Conditioning, depending on context. The second meaning is often used in a railway context and more generally) electrified railway elsewhere, such as on the GE, the ECML^▸ (East Coast Main Line) and previously the WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line), although most of the latter have been bypassed as part of the route modernisation.  But the latter was all about increased train speed and train frequency, nothing to do with the risk of high vehicles causing problems.

Paul

[JayMac]

I think there might be some additional warning signs when wires are present....

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@motor/documents/digitalasset/dg_191922.pdf

[IndustryInsider]

I like the Network SouthEast liveried HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) in that .pdf 


Moderator note: This post led to a brief response about fictional liveries applied to HSTs and then went on a further tangent. Subsequent posts have been split off to a new topic on a more appropriate board!

See: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=11007.0

bignosemac