Stray current control-an arbitrators view

Leakage of direct currents to earth, and thence to buried metallic structures, from distributed supplies whilst returning to the point of supply for the section is an accepted fact. The damage that may be caused by stray traction currents emanating from a newly constructed DC railway system may be extensive and the `owner´ of such damaged metalwork will inevitably seek compensation and assurances that all that can be done, as far as is reasonably practicable, to prevent or minimise electrolytic corrosion will be undertaken. The author discusses these problems from the Department of Transport´s Railway Inspectorate´s Arbitrator in connection with the Manchester Metrolink project. The problems faced at the design stage are discussed