§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what national safety standards are set for the diameter of the current carrying overhead wire used for railway electrification, giving the largest and smallest permitted diameters.
§ Mr. FreemanThe electrification equipment used by BR generally conforms to the appropriate British or UIC standards. Stranded wires of diameters between 10 and 22 mm and solid contact wires of between 12.3 and 14.5 mm diameter are currently used. The Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate issues standards for the safe use of this electrical equipment.