And Metro-North Railroad's New Haven line relies on overhead power lines that could get tangled in blown foliage.

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But going underground is an expensive proposition: The direct costs are much more than those associated with traditional overhead power lines.

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Network Rail is replacing overhead power lines installed 30 years ago, reducing the number of delays and cancellations caused by faults.

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The upgrade of outdated overhead power lines between London Liverpool Street and Chelmsford is set to be completed by May 2017.

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Chris Ambler, from Jersey Electricity, said more overhead power lines were damaged overnight and a team of about 30 engineers were working to fix them.

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The combination of being less of an eyesore and producing less electrical smog should, TenneT hopes, soften objections to the construction of new overhead power lines.

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The report concluded that such technologies cost about 10 times that of overhead power lines, although another European study says that the rise in costs is about half that.

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The broken down train's equipment for picking up power from overhead lines was faulty, a Greater Anglia spokesman said.

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The gap between the pantograph, which is the arm on top of the train car that draws power from overhead lines, and the catenary system must remain within a precise distance and tension.

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The project will generate enough electricity to power 4, 500 homes annually and connect to the national grid via existing overhead lines.

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