Overhead lines were down in North London for 2 days. Seriously damaged in 23 other locations on three main lines.Signals were obscured by snow and track completely covered and possibly iced over. Driver visibility reduced.Third rail system has de icing and heating facilities in vulnerable areas. It's no less reliable than the overhead system. Whilst the overhead AC is much favoured, this is a very windy county with a lot of trees and an old infractucture. The cost of overhead electrification is astronomic and short of cutting all trees within 400m of lines, and building windbreaks will never be reliable.What is lacking is a fleet of snow and de-icing and rescue locomotives in strategic locations and crews to operate them. They do exist but are too few, and in the most likely areas.This time things happened in the most unlikely areas.These things are so rare that the cost exceeds the requirements. In other countries a weather shutdown is announced. Specialist mobilised and it's all back up and running in the shortest time. Here we wait till it all goes wrong and then react too late.
Raymond Havelock ● 2721d