Mitigating the impact of weather and climate on railway operations in the UK

Abstract

The impact of weather and climate on railway operations may be responsible for up to 20% of unplanned delays. In the UK very little research has been undertaken to assess these impacts and suggest mitigating strategies. This paper examines the range of weather and climate impacts, identifying sensitivities and thresholds and current weather forecasting techniques. It is proposed that lessons can be learned from the extensive developments in road weather forecasting pioneered in the UK. Initial results covering the measurement & prediction of overhead line icing, and the activation of wind gust alarms are presented.