The third protocol

摘要

According to the document 'ORR's policy on Third Rail Electrification Systems', which references a 2012 RSSB statement, third rail electrification has eight times the equivalent fatalities of 25kV overhead, despite having half of the route mileage. The document states the regulator's 'presumption against' any extension of the third rail network based on these shocking statistics. I called for the cancellation of this document as it provides an easy excuse for not considering the obvious infill electrification on what was (and for the purposes of this article is again) the Southern Region, such as the Uckfield branch and the gaps on the North Downs line. Obviously, the document is still there, although the ORR has negotiated around the edges, but without tackling this posterior covering document there can be no sensible long-term decarbonisation plan.