Strategic project - Preventing pantograph and OHL line damage. Part 4 - Optical fibre pantograph auto drop system: Prototype construction and test (RR-SAM-069)

BR Research is currently evaluating new carbon materials to improve pantograph reliability. This will include carbons bonded to the head strips, rendering the existing auto-drop (ADD) system impractical. An ADD system based on fibre optic technology has been investigated as an alternative to the pneumatic systems being offered by manufacturers.