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I'm sure somebody can tell me why, but wouldn't it be a lot easier and cheaper to lay a third live rail instead of those overhead lines?
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Maximum speed on third rail is 100mph, so it's not suitable for high speed rail. Apart from this there's the excessive current draw required to run 6,7,8MW electric express trains on 750V DC, which wastes power in heat and requires hefty chunks of metal to conduct it.
3rd rail is also far less safe than overhead for track workers.
Chris - the Eurostar sets have had the 3rd rail shoes removed.