Abstract: In view of the fact that the railway power cables outside the railway safety protection area were frequently destroyed by people, endangering the safety of railway transportation and affecting the order of railway transportation, a comprehensive analysis and summary of the laws, regulations, standards, management systems, protective measures and emergency disposal related to the safety of railway power cables, in accordance with the system safety theories, has been conducted by means of inspection and investigation, consulting experts and data statistics. The weak links and loopholes in the protection of railway power cables outside the railway safety protection area at present have been found out. Suggestions on improving the self-safeties of power cables, strengthening the daily management of power cables, perfecting laws, regulations and industry standards, as well as other aspects have been put forward. These will provide a reference for strengthening the protection of power cables outside the railway safety protection area.

Key words: railway safety, power cable, safety protection area, protection research, system safety