What Is This Trackside Grid?

[Envoy]

I notice that trackside grids have appeared on the South Wales Mainline. What are they for?

 

[Hellzapoppin]

It's a safety system, commonly called Vortok fencing. It keeps trackside staff away from the running line at a safe distance. The "arms" clip under the rail and are connected along their length by the blue poles, once work finishes then they're unclipped and taken away.

 

[swt_passenger]

It‘s been in widespread use across the whole country for many years. Someone here might know the date it first appeared, but it’s not going to be recent. Google finds references to safety awards for Vortok fencing in 2002…

 

[John Luxton]

I wonder of the inspriation for this fencing came from the model railway world. In the 60s and 70s Triang made quite a thing of "clip fit" accessories which clipped to their track. Fencing was one of those.

 

[Envoy]

Many thanks for the answers.

 

[Annetts key]

Some don't "clip" to the rail, instead strong magnets are used to attach to the side of the rail.

 

[deltic08]

It's a safety system, commonly called Vortok fencing. It keeps trackside staff away from the running line at a safe distance. The "arms" clip under the rail and are connected along their length by the blue poles, once work finishes then they're unclipped and taken away.

Where are the blue poles?

 

[Hellzapoppin]

The arms that fit to the rail are single pieces, they're linked together by 2 rows of fibre glass poles, 1 above the other, so forming a fence. The poles are in short sections which fit together so forming a continuous barrier depending on how many arms are fitted to the rail. The colour isn't clear in the pic but they're there.

 

[Annetts key]

Where are the blue poles?

The horizontal "bars" that are parallel with the rail. They are coloured blue as per the required specification. In the photo the blue colour is not showing up for some reason.

 

[DarloRich]

The horizontal "bars" that are parallel with the rail. They are coloured blue as per the required specification. In the photo the blue colour is not showing up for some reason.

The horizontal bars don't look in great nick.

 

[Spartacus]

I wonder of the inspriation for this fencing came from the model railway world. In the 60s and 70s Triang made quite a thing of "clip fit" accessories which clipped to their track. Fencing was one of those.

R537 fencing, it's so similar it could have been an inspiration!

 

[Annetts key]

The horizontal "blue" bars/poles are held in with C clips. The idea is that if someone is stupid enough to find themselves on the line and a train approaches, they can run at the fence and the horizontal "blue" bars/poles will pop out when you push against them. Hence allowing you to get out of the way of the train.

Because of the orientation of the C clips, they should not come loose if pushed from the cess / safe area side.