Signal cable theft

[notspy]

Currently stuck waiting for at least 15 mins at Tipton due to possible signal cable theft, anyone have more info?
Is this a frequent problem for the West Midlands area? And how can you guard against it?

 

[MotCO]

Presumably stolen for copper content. Is Optic cable less valuable?

(Also do you want to add 'cable' to the post title - I thought you meant a signal had been stolen!)

 

[AlterEgo]

Cable theft used to be a lot more common until rules on scrap dealing for cash tightened a few years back.

Cable theft is dangerous to commit. These are often - but not always - inside jobs and a symptom of NR contracting out tenders to companies who don’t due their due diligence on their staff.

 

[skyhigh]

Is Optic cable less valuable?

Yes, it's essentially worthless to a thief.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

And how can you guard against it?

Not sure you always can, unless you were to throw a shedload of manpower and money at the problem.

We had another quite lengthy discussion on the matter just three months or so ago...

Cable theft becoming a more common occurrence

I work along the MML, and have noticed a significant increase in theft or at least attempts to made at pulling cable. What can/ should be done to prevent this, obviously it's not the hardest of tasks for those who are doing it, and with so much trackside access being unmanned and without CCTV I...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[zwk500]

Currently stuck waiting for at least 15 mins at Tipton due to possible signal cable theft, anyone have more info?
Is this a frequent problem for the West Midlands area? And how can you guard against it?

Not sure about West mids specifically but yes, it's a common problem because metal prices are through the roof. It's rather dangerous because you might go through a 660V signalling cable but you might also go through a 25KV or 33KV power cable. Also happens to the electricity board.

I saw a story about a grandmother in Georgia (Former soviet republic, not US state) who'd cut off internet to about 3 countries by going through a fibre optic cable trying to see if it was copper or not.

Also agree with @MotCO, you may want to clarify it's cable theft, as the current thread title conjures an image of a rather determined souvenir hunter!

 

[dosxuk]

Yes, it's essentially worthless to a thief.

Unfortunately that doesn't mean they realise this before they've pinched it.

 

[zwk500]

Unfortunately that doesn't mean they realise this before they've pinched it.

Indeed - quite often they just cut through all the cables at once to work out which ones they want to take. Not helped by the cables all being in a bundle in the trough, and the thieves having an understandable element of haste to their 'work'.

 

[notspy]

Presumably stolen for copper content. Is Optic cable less valuable?

(Also do you want to add 'cable' to the post title - I thought you meant a signal had been stolen!)

Have done, sorry for confusion! I’m guessing that theft of a whole signal is a slight bit harder!

 

[L401CJF]

There was some cable theft last week causing a loss of signalling between Oakengates and Cosford which went on for over 24hrs, trains held at Cosford and Emergency Special Working in place between there and Oakengates. Long wait for the train ahead to clear the section running at reduced speed.

 

[Pigeon]

And how can you guard against it?

Fibre optic cables to convey data to/from the signal, and supply the power for the lights locally, eg. by capacitive coupling from the OHLE or one of those wee solar/wind/battery units. Similar sort of thing for axle counters, although you could simplify it further by powering them from the flexure of the track as trains go by. And make sure the installers converse freely down the pub about how the new system has no copper in it.

This also gives you a signal/train detection system which is inherently immune to electrical interference and to various failure modes which arise from wiring faults, so you get two lots of goodies for the price of one.

 

[plugwash]

Presumably stolen for copper content. Is Optic cable less valuable?

My understanding is that fiber optic cable has basically no scrap value.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

More cable theft related problems in the Doncaster/Bentley/Wakefield Westgate area today?

 

[skyhigh]

More cable theft related problems in the Doncaster/Bentley/Wakefield Westgate area today?

Yes. Exactly the same area as a couple of days ago and damaged in exactly the same way. No cable stolen though so not sure if it's just vandalism or failed theft.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Are there particular cable theft 'Bermuda Triangle" hotspots, so to speak, around the GB network, where cable seemingly keeps on disappearing?

 

[800001]

Yes. Exactly the same area as a couple of days ago and damaged in exactly the same way. No cable stolen though so not sure if it's just vandalism or failed theft.

It’s attempted theft, cable placed over line, 4L83 reported running over cables which are now split.

 

[Annetts key]

Are there particular cable theft 'Bermuda Triangle" hotspots, so to speak, around the GB network, where cable seemingly keeps on disappearing?

Yes. May not be exactly the same location. But often occurs in the same general area. At least, until the idiots get caught.

 

[zwk500]

Yes. May not be exactly the same location. But often occurs in the same general area. At least, until the idiots get caught.

It also tends to be the same people, or members of the same group/gang, so tends to be concentrated in their local area until stopped.

 

[Annetts key]

Also, it’s fairly common for cables to be damaged (cut with a tool, or placed on the line for a train to cut) and nothing to be actually stolen.

Either, the cable thieves get disturbed or they intend coming back later once the “fuss” has died down. Or they find that copper cable that has heavy PCP rubber insulation and thick outer sheath is rather heavy to drag or carry (you find the cut-off cable a few hundred yards/metres away from where it had been).

Once when investigating a cable fault, we found the blunt hacksaw that they had been using…

And yes, occasionally you see the idiots in the distance, as they leg it.