They're still stupid enough to try and move stolen metals in the first place.
And then techs would be forever chasing false alarms
Or forever testing and fixing broken transmitters
A big hammer will serve far better than any key.
Even ETCS with track circuits would help, as the bulk of the signalling data transmission is done over radio, and there's no signals to power so it'd be worthwhile to protect the remaining cables much more effectively.
Four points:
This will always be a problem
Although with much less data cables to carry and theoretically fewer items of signalling to install it is still less cabling.
Less cables is less opportunity though, and if the thieves now have to walk 2 or 3 times as far to get the cables they're going to be less interested in it as a target.
That's never going to happen. We need better anti theft measures.
They're not going to be worth the money, realistically.
Well, less cabling would help, to be fair. And anchoring the remaining fixed infrastructure on a potential ETCS style system more firmly into the formation would help.
It really won't. A good pair of cable clippers or lock cutters would make short work of any anchor. People get through bike locks in seconds nowadays, how thick are your proposed anchors?
Some cables are anchored but that's done to prevent vandals dragging the cable across the track. Buried duct routes, good idea but won't work in the railway environment, in the vast majority of places there isn't the space to install routes and what if you need to move the cables to facilitate engr works. Lockable lids, well they are available but big hammer or a disc cutter straight through the lids,cables and troughs is really easily. Cable monitoring, already done in some areas but by the time someone gets to site the cables have been cut, shoved in the back of a van and gone. You wouldn't believe the lengths these people go to to get the copper.
With ETCS with onboard train completeless check the amount of powered trackside equipment would fall precipitously.
The thickness of a rail, at the very least. I wasn't talking of a cable-based lock!
Oh I understand it's valuable and that motivates thieves to go lengths accessing it, but there must be a better way to protect it.
So how long will it take to screw a scrap piece of rail down every 5 meters for every possession that needs to access the cables?
It's that or have it stolen.
30 seconds may be worth it if BTP/NR could start sealing off the area in that time. Or activate CCTV so the cable thieves' location is known.
How many people do you think are working to prevent cable theft? 30 seconds will make naff all difference.
"sealing off the area"? There isn't a squad of tens of people and a helicopter that can be scrambled at seconds notice to stop anyone leaving any area. I'm sorry but it's really not practical.
Depending on location, it could take BTP over 30 mins to get there. 30 less seconds won't change a thing.
I was thinking of more an urban location near London where it would have more impact on services if cable was stolen.
I live in South Africa and the people here are the experts not only railways but roads as well the cables were put above ground from lamppost to lamppost so
Only the lowest end ones. Good luck in getting through these in seconds.
How much is reasonable for NR to spend on a fixing, given there's something like 16,000 route KM of railway in the country and a fixing is proposed every 5m? That's 200 fixings per KM of cable, remember.
Well that's hardly cricket!
I'm not sure if it's to the same extent, but I've certainly seen reports of delays due to cable theft this side of the channel.
As far as I know, in Japan, if a thief dares to steal railway cables especially on mainline who will commit not only crime of theft but also the crime of destroying the transportation system what is a felony that almost reaching the level of terrorist attacks and treason, it's almost easy to get a sentence of more than two years. I believe that in so does in China.
