Abstract: A method for the protection of double circuit electrical power lines protected by local and remote circuit breakers is performed by a local protection apparatus and comprises sensing electrical quantities measured at the local end of both circuits of the double circuit lines, monitoring the sensed electrical quantities to detect occurrence of a fault, delaying operation of the local circuit breakers on both circuits for a time period sufficient to allow detection of operation of a remote circuit breaker by its effect on the electrical quantities on both circuits, and if the effect of a fault on a circuit of the double circuit line persists after remote circuit breaker operation, triggering operation of a local circuit breaker to isolate the fault.