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Issue 13
Page 47
APPENDIX A
- PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN WHEN PLANNING
THE INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF TRAFFIC CONTROL
EQUIPMENT IN THE VICINITY OF LIGHT RAPID TRANSPORT
SYSTEMS
Introduction
The details given in this Appendix are designed to assist in the planning of
installation and maintenance of traffic control equipment in the vicinity of LRT
systems. Advice is given on the prevention of accidental contact between LRT
track or vehicles and street furniture, which would permit traction current to
return through the Traffic control equipment earthing system.
Reference Documents
The following documents were consulted in the preparation of this Appendix:
GEC Alsthom Transportation Projects Limited report no. TPL25/S/026
–
Earthing and Bonding Policy for Manchester Metrolink.
GEC Alsthom Transmission and Distribution Projects Limited report no. S/Sdq
856
– Metrolink Report on Touch Voltages for Phase 1 dated 19
th
October
1990. Reference 732/XREP27.
Background
LRT track and the vehicles running on it may be at a potential other than the
local earth potential. This is due to track resistance and the return traction
current flowing through it.
In the Manchester Metrolink system the highest track/vehicle potential, known
as the “touch voltage” is estimated to be 34.9 V for trains crush loaded on
minimum headway and 109 V under short circuit fault conditions. The fault is
said to persist for a maximum of 100 ms.
The traction current is DC and the resulting track/vehicle potential is said to be
safe for humans from the touch voltage point of view.
However, the source impedance could be low and it is desirable to prevent
the touch voltage coming into contact with traffic control equipment street
furniture and cables that are bonded to the electricity supply earth.
Any contact could cause heavy currents to flow, which would give rise to
excessive temperatures in the earth conductors of the traffic control
equipment, with resultant fire and explosion risk.
The recommendations that follow are aimed at preventing this.
Spacing of Street Furniture from LRT Track and Vehicles
It is recommended that 3 metres separation should always be maintained
between the nearest points on street furniture and LRT track and vehicles.
This nearest point should take into account that the separation can be
reduced when vehicle and equipment doors are open.