What can the UK do to improve its response to winter weather?
13 Jan 2010, 15:08katherine.williams
What practical engineering and materials solutions can the UK introduce to improve its response to the winter weather? My train company grinds to a halt each time there is snow as it relies on the third rail system. Do you have any suggestions for improved UK infrastructure or planning or for cost effective solutions to wintery problems?
Response to Winter Weather
The issue is not so much with innovative engineering or materials focused solutions but effective management of them and any response. It would appear that no one in government or the local authorities learned any lesson from the similar weather we experienced in February 2009!
Whilst this response might appear off-topic, it could easily be applied to various industrial sectors in the UK, where inadequate management or poor application hinders the application of innovative engineering or technical solutions.
Winter Weather
It would appear to me that we have not yet learnt that in winter 1) it gets cold and 2) there is adverse weather.
I would have thought that it is not beyond the wit of man that trains using a 'third rail' system could be fitted with snow ploughs in front of the collectors for the electricity pick up. Simple yes! well perhaps I have just missed the points!!
Some areas better than others
In parts of the UK where there is often severe winter weather such as areas in Scotland they seem more prepared and to manage things better as they have invetsed in the necessary equipment.
In the end it comes down to cost - would we rather have lots of snow ploughs that maybe get used for a few days oer year or schools/hospitals?
One key mistake that could be corrected is to hold more than 7 days of grit - I understand that 7 days stock was the instruction to councils. Did nobody realise that if demand surged then 1) supply would not be able to cope and 2) lorries would in any case not be able to make collections/deliveries due to the weather conditions.