Could Space Weather Delay Your Train? Modelling the Impacts of Geomagnetically Induced Currents on Railway Signalling Systems

Track circuit signalling systems are widely utilised across the world, and their ability to accurately detect trains is crucial for the safe and reliable operation of a railway network. These systems use electric circuits to detect the presence or absence of trains in sections along a railway line, as such, they can be susceptible to interference from geomagnetically induced currents.

With input from a project advisory group of industry experts, we are developing a model to analyse the impact that space weather has on DC track circuits along realistic sections of the UK railway network. Recent improvements to the model include utilising the British Geological Survey Near Surface Electrical Resistivity Model of Great Britain for more accurate leakage to ground estimations. The latest results from the model for arterial routes in England and Scotland, including case studies of historical extreme events will be shown.