Looks like it is not just Lewisham that has improved their preparations for winter. The latest stakeholder brief from our rail company, Southern, suggests that they have done a lot of work since last winter to keep trains running if it snows. Details
here. Only time will tell whether their preparations really make a difference but it's encouraging news. Certainly the new de-icing trains are likely to be more useful than the more widely reported space blankets and glow sticks!
Good news indeed, hope they'll be able to keep the service up and running most days this winter! When I saw the heading, I thought they were simply dusting off the "no trains today due to sun/rain/fog/leaves/snow/wind/bad PMS" signs.
I believe the DLR keeps running because its live rail has a different design.
Different conductor rail on DLR certainly helps because the train picks up from underneath the rail so the contact doesn't get iced over. Overhead power is also better - at least until the power wires get so loaded with ice they collapse under the weight. That's probably not a problem if the line is in use because the power wire will stay warm. Unfortunately, it would be rather expensive to convert the whole third rail network to a different type of conductor now so heating it, sweeping it and applying de-icing fluids are probably the most practical solutions.
Interesting to see that Southern have also given some attention to the problems of staff actually getting into their depots too - although I guess that if the roads are closed there will still be problems with staff getting to work...