List of current systems for electric rail traction
This is a list of the power supply systems that are, or have been, used for tramway and railway electrification systems.
Note that the voltages are nominal and vary depending on load and distance from the substation.
Many modern trams and trains use on-board solid-state electronics to convert these supplies to run three-phase AC induction motors.
Key to the tables below
- Volts: voltage or volt
- Current:
- DC = direct current
- xx Hz = frequency in hertz (alternating current (AC))
- AC supplies are single-phase, except where marked three-phase
- Conductors:
- overhead line or
- conductor rail, usually a third rail to one side of the running rails
- Conductor rail can be:
- top contact: oldest, least safe, affected by ice, snow and leaves
- side contact: newer, safer, less affected by ice, snow and leaves
- bottom contact: newer, safer, least affected by ice, snow and leaves
- Conductor rail can be:
Systems using standard voltages
Voltages are defined by two standards: BS EN 50163[1] and IEC 60850.[2]
Overhead systems
600 V DC
This voltage is mostly used by older tram systems worldwide but by a few new ones as well.
Country | Name of system | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Australia | Adelaide Metro tramway | Adelaide | |
Yarra Trams | Melbourne | ||
Belgium | Antwerp Tram | Antwerp | |
Belgian Coast Tram | De Panne to Knokke | ||
Brussels trams | Brussels | ||
Ghent Tram | Ghent | ||
Canada | Calgary Transit C-Train | Calgary | |
Edmonton Transit LRT | Edmonton | ||
Toronto Transit Commission | Toronto | streetcars only | |
Czech Republic | most tram lines | negative polarity in Brno and Ostrava | |
England | Blackpool Tramway | Blackpool | |
Estonia | Tallinn tram | Tallinn | |
Finland | Helsinki tram | Helsinki | |
Germany | Augsburg tram (Stadtwerke Augsburg Verkehrsbetriebe) |
Augsburg | tram |
Hungary | BKV | Budapest | trams and metro line M1 |
DKV | Debrecen | tram | |
MVK Zrt. | Miskolc | tram | |
Public transport in Szeged | Szeged | tram | |
Italy | Most tram lines | ||
Japan | Most tram lines | ||
Chōshi Electric Railway | Chōshi, Chiba | ||
Eizan Electric Railway | Kyoto, Kyoto | ||
Enoshima Electric Railway | Kanagawa | ||
Iyotetsu Takahama Line | Matsuyama, Ehime | ||
Shizuoka Railway | Shizuoka, Shizuoka | ||
Tokyu Setagaya Line | Tokyo | ||
Netherlands | Amsterdam Tram | Amsterdam | including line 51 of the Amsterdam Metro south of Station Zuid |
Rotterdam tram | Rotterdam | ||
Trams in The Hague | The Hague | ||
Poland | City tram networks in various cities: Bydgoszcz, Częstochowa, Elbląg, Gdańsk Silesia, Gorzów Wielkopolski Grudziądz, Kraków (Cracow), Olsztyn, Poznań Szczecin, Toruń, Warszawa (Warsaw) and Wrocław. |
Bydgoszcz, Częstochowa, Elbląg, Gdańsk, GOP (Upper Silesia conurbation), Gorzów Wielkopolski, Grudziądz, Kraków (Cracow), Olsztyn, Poznań, Szczecin, Toruń, Warszawa (Warsaw), Wrocław | all standard gauge (1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)), except Bydgoszcz, Elbląg, Grudziądz, Łódź and Toruń (metre gauge). Negative polarity in Częstochowa, Elbląg, Gorzów Wielkopolski, Grudziądz and all Łódź network. |
Suburban trams in and around Łódź (Lodz) | Łódź plus Konstantynów Łódzki, Lutomiersk, Ozorków, Pabianice and Zgierz | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge | |
Romania | Arad tramway system Arad-Ghioroc Narrow Gauge Railway |
Arad, Arad county | being built during Hungarian rule, the system originally uses the same standard as Hungary, Arad-Ghioroc Narrow Gauge Railway being the first electrified railway line in present-day Romania; metre gauge |
Botoşani tramway system | Botoşani | recently lowered from Romanian standard 750 V due to massive import of second hand German trams | |
Craiova tramway system | Craiova | recently lowered from Romanian standard 750 V due to massive import of second hand German trams | |
Iaşi tramway system | Iaşi | lowered from 825 V in 2005, metre gauge | |
Oradea tramway system | Oradea | being built during Hungarian rule, the system originally uses the same standard as Hungary | |
Sibiu-Răşinari Narrow Gauge Railway | Sibiu county | part of the former Sibiu tram line | |
Timişoara tramway system | Timişoara | being built during Hungarian rule, the system originally uses the same standard as Hungary | |
Serbia | Belgrade tram system | Belgrade | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge |
Slovakia | Trenčianska elektrická železnica (TREŽ) Tramways in Bratislava and Košice |
Trenčianska Teplá – Trenčianske Teplice Bratislava Košice | 760 mm (2 ft 5 15⁄16 in) gauge, negative polarity in Košice |
Switzerland | Basel Trams (BVB) | Basel | |
Bern Trams (Bernmobil) | Bern | ||
Dolderbahn | Zürich | ||
Geneva Trams (TPG) | Geneva | ||
Regionalverkehr Bern-Solothurn (RBS) | Canton Bern | tram line 6 between Bern and Worb; all other lines are electrified at 1250 V DC[3] | |
Zürich Trams (VBZ) | Zürich | ||
United States | Kenosha Streetcar | Kenosha, Wisconsin | |
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority | Boston | • The entire MBTA Green Line streetcar/light rail system • Ashmont–Mattapan High Speed Line • Part of the MBTA Blue Line northeast of Airport station | |
RTA Streetcars in New Orleans | New Orleans | all lines | |
RTA Rapid Transit | Cleveland, Ohio | all three lines | |
San Diego Electric Railway & San Diego Trolley | San Diego | The San Diego Electric Railway is defunct and is succeeded by the San Diego Trolley. | |
San Francisco Muni | San Francisco | ||
SEPTA | Philadelphia, PA and suburbs | 600 V trolley wire used on trolley routes within Philadelphia and suburban routes from 69th Street Terminal |
750 V DC
This voltage is used for most modern tram systems.
1,200 V DC
Country | Name of system | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Cuba | Ferrocarriles Nacionales de Cuba | Havana – Matanzas and branches | originally (and still known as) the Hershey Electric Railway |
Estonia | (Elektriraudtee) 1924–1941 and 1946–1958, converted to 3000 V DC | ||
Germany | Lusatian | 900 mm (2 ft 11 7⁄16 in) gauge mining railways in the brown coal district | |
Hungary | Budapest Suburban Railway lines | Budapest | 1100 V DC actually |
Spain | Barcelona Metro | Barcelona, Catalonia | uses an overhead conductor rail/beam system |
Sóller Railway | Palma – Sóller, Majorca | [5] | |
Switzerland | Aare Seeland mobil (ASm) | Canton Bern / Canton Solothurn | [6][7] |
Bremgarten-Dietikon-Bahn | Dietikon, Canton Zürich – Wohlen, Aargau | ||
Forchbahn | Zürich – Esslingen, Canton Zürich | Forchbahn proper only; Forchbahn trains access their Zürich terminus via the Zürich tram network, which is electrified at 600 V DC. The rolling stock is equipped to run off both voltages. | |
Frauenfeld-Wil-Bahn | Frauenfeld, Thurgau – Wil, Canton St. Gallen | ||
Meiringen–Innertkirchen Bahn | Meiringen – Innertkirchen, Canton Bern | ||
Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn | Zürich – Üetliberg, Canton Zürich | Uetliberg line only – uses an offset overhead line and pantograph to allow running on track shared with the AC-electrified Sihltal line[8] |
1,500 V DC
3 kV DC
Country | Name of system | Location | Note |
---|---|---|---|
Belgium | Belgium National Railways (SNCB) | National standard. 25 kV AC used on high speed lines and some lines in the south area. | |
Brazil | SuperVia Trens Urbanos; | Rio de Janeiro suburban network; | |
Canada | Deux-Montagnes Line | Montreal | built by CNoR in 1918, converted to 25 kV AC/60 Hz in 1995 by AMT |
Chile | |||
Czech Republic | Czech Railway Infrastructure Administration (SŽDC) | Northern part of network only (approx. the Děčín - Praha - Ostrava route). The system change stations are Kadaň-Prunéřov, Beroun, Benešov u Prahy, Kutná Hora hl.n., Svitavy, Nezamyslice, Nedakonice. The southern part uses 25 kV 50 Hz. | |
Estonia | Tallinn commuter rail only | ||
Georgia | Georgian Railway LLC | In fact 3,300 V | |
Italy | RFI - Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (Italian Railways Network) | 25 kV AC used on new high speed lines | |
North Korea | Korean State Railway | national standard | |
Latvia | Latvian Railways (LDz) | to be converted to 25 kV AC | |
Luxembourg | Chemins de fer luxembourgeois (CFL) | The line between Luxembourg and Arlon | 25 kV AC on the rest of the network |
Morocco | ONCF (Office National des Chemins de Fer) | national standard | |
Poland | Polish State Railways (PKP) | planned new high speed lines will use 25 kV AC | |
Warszawska Kolej Dojazdowa (WKD) | Warszawa and suburbs | 600 V DC until 27 May 2016 | |
Russian Federation | Russian Railways (RZD) | new electrification use only 25 kV AC | |
Slovakia | Slovak Republic Railways (ŽSR) | Northern main line (connected to Czech Republic and Poland) and eastern lines (around Košice and Prešov), conversion to 25 kV AC planned, and the broad gauge line between Košice and the Ukraine border (it will remain 3 kV until new broad gauge line construction, then convert to 25 kV AC), planned new broad gauge line is supposed to use 25 kV AC. Currently, the part north and east of the station Púchov uses 3 kV DC, the rest uses 25 kV 50 Hz. | |
Slovenia | Slovenian Railways (SŽ) | national standard | |
South Africa | Transnet Freight Rail (TFR); MetroRail | national standard; also 25 kV AC and 50 kV AC used | |
Spain | Spanish National Railways (RENFE) | 25 kV AC used on new high speed lines | |
Ukraine | Ukrainian Railways | in east (Donetsk industrial zone), in west (west from L'viv – connecting to Slovakia and Poland), to be converted to 25 kV AC[17] | |
United States | Morris & Essex Lines | New Jersey, lines towards New York City | By Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad in 1930.[18] Converted to 25 kV 60 Hz by NJT in 1984 |
15 kV AC, 16 2⁄3 Hz (16.7 Hz)
Country | Name of system | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Austria | Austrian Federal Railways | national standard | |
Germany | German National Railways | national standard | |
Norway | Norwegian National Rail Administration | national standard | |
Sweden | Swedish Transport Administration | national standard | |
Switzerland | Chemin de fer Bière-Apples-Morges (BAM) | Vaud | |
BLS | Canton Bern | ||
Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn | Canton Zürich | Sihltal line only; shares track with the 1200 V DC electrified Uetliberg line that uses an offset overhead line and pantograph to allow such sharing | |
Swiss Federal Railways | Throughout the country | ||
Zentralbahn | Central Switzerland and Bernese Oberland |
25 kV AC, 50 Hz
Country | Name of system | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Argentina | Roca Line | Buenos Aires | Constitución - Ezeiza Constitución - Alejandro Korn Constitución - Claypole Constitución - Berazategui |
Australia | Queensland Rail | Brisbane, North Coast Line, Coalfields | Queensland |
Transperth | Perth | Western Australia | |
Adelaide Metro | Adelaide | South Australia; to be electrified 2009–2018 | |
Belarus | |||
Belgium | Belgium National Railways (NMBS/SNCB) | High-speed lines and some other lines | the rest of the network is 3 kV DC — see rail transport in Belgium |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | |||
Botswana | proposed line to Namibia | ||
Bulgaria | Bulgarian State Railways BDZ | ||
China | |||
Congo | |||
Croatia | Croatian Railways (HŽ) | Nationwide | national standard |
Czech Republic | Czech Railway Infrastructure Administration (SŽDC) | Southern lines only (linking Karlovy Vary - Cheb - Plzeň - České Budějovice - Tábor - Jihlava - Brno - Břeclav - Slovakia). | |
Denmark | Banedanmark | See rail transport in Denmark | Vast majority of the Banedanmark network not electrified |
Finland | Finnish Railway network | National standard | |
France | French National Railways (SNCF) | ||
Germany | Rübelandbahn | Harz | |
Greece | Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE) | Nationwide | National standard. See Railways of Greece for details of progress. |
Hong Kong | Mass Transit Railway Corporation (East Rail Line) (West Rail Line) and (Ma On Shan Line) | Hong Kong | |
Hungary | Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) and Raaberbahn (GYSEV) | ||
India | Indian Railways (IR) | National standard. Large parts of Mumbai Division (Central Railways) are 1500 V DC, but are being converted to 25 kV AC.[19] | |
Chennai Metro | Chennai | ||
Delhi Metro | Delhi | ||
Iran | Planned | ||
Israel | Israel Railways | construction contract awarded in December 2015[20] | |
Italy | new high-speed lines only | ||
Japan | JR East Tōhoku, Jōetsu, and Hokuriku Shinkansen | 60 Hz in some areas, see 60 Hz overhead below. | |
Kazakhstan | |||
Latvia | Latvian Railways (LDz) | Eastern lines only | |
Lithuania | Lithuanian Railways (LG) | Naujoji Vilnia-Kaunas and Naujoji Vilnia-Trakai | Electrification of Naujoji Vilnia – Kena route by 2013 for Vilnius – Minsk (Belarus) is expected. Further Kaunas – Klaipeda corridor electrification will follow. |
Luxembourg | Chemins de fer luxembourgeois (CFL) | National standard | the Luxembourg – Arlon line is electrified under 3 kV DC |
Macedonia | Macedonian Railways | ||
Malaysia | KTM Komuter Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad | Sungai Gadut - Tanjung Malim / Port Klang - Batu Caves | Under Construction Ipoh - Padang Besar / Sungai Gadut - Gemas |
Montenegro | Railways of Montenegro | Belgrade - Bar railway and Podgorica - Nikšić | |
Namibia | Proposed line to Botswana | ||
Netherlands | Used on new High Speed Lines and Freight Lines | 1.5 kV DC used on the rest of the network | |
New Zealand | North Island Main Trunk Railway | Central North Island section, 411 km between Palmerston North and Hamilton | |
Auckland suburban | Auckland | 77 km between Swanson and Papakura; first service 28 April 2014 | |
Portugal | Portuguese Railways (CP) | except the Cascais Line (1500 V DC) | |
Romania | Romanian Railways (CFR) | ||
Russian Federation | Russian Railways (RZD) | National standard | |
Serbia | Serbian Railways | ||
Slovakia | Slovak Republic Railways (ŽSR) | South-western lines only (around Bratislava, Kuty, Trencin, Trnava, Nove Zamky, Zvolen) and the entire network (except narrow gauge lines) to follow | |
Spain | new high-speed lines only | ||
South Africa | Transnet Freight Rail (TFR), Gautrain | ||
Thailand | Suvarnabhumi Airport Link | Bangkok | |
Tunisia | [21] | ||
Turkey | Turkish State Railways (TCDD) | Nationwide | National standard |
UK | Network Rail | except Southern region and Merseyside | |
Ukraine | Ukrainian Railways | national standard, in most of the west; also 3000 V DC in the east | |
Uzbekistan | |||
Zimbabwe | National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) | Gweru-Harare | de-energised in 2008 |
25 kV AC, 60 Hz
While 25 kV 60 Hz is not standardized by BS EN 50163 and IEC 60850; it is the logical equivalent of 25 kV 50 Hz in countries where 60 Hz is the normal grid power frequency.
Country | Name of system | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Canada | Deux-Montagnes Line | Montreal | built by CNoR in 1918 as 3000 V DC, converted to 25 kV AC/60 Hz in 1995 by AMT |
Japan | Tōkaidō-Sanyō Shinkansen Hokuriku Shinkansen Kyushu Shinkansen |
Western Japan, Central Japan, Eastern Japan, JR Kyushu | 50 Hz in eastern Japan; see 25 kV AC 50 Hz overhead above |
South Korea | Korail | South Korea | all Korail freight/passenger lines except Seoul subway Line 3 (see 1500 V DC overhead above) |
A'REX | Incheon, Seoul | ||
Mexico | Ferrocarril Suburbano de la Zona Metropolitana del Valle de México | Mexico City | [22] |
Taiwan | Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) | all electrified lines | |
Taiwan High Speed Railway (THSR) | Western Taiwan Corridor | ||
United States | Morris & Essex Lines, New Jersey Transit | New Jersey | former 3,000 V DC system |
North Jersey Coast Line, New Jersey Transit | Aberdeen-Matawan to Long Branch, New Jersey | Converted in 1978 from Pennsylvania Railroad 11 kV 25 Hz system to the 12.5 kV 25 Hz on the Rahway-Matawan ROW and 12.5 kV 60 Hz electrification extended to Long Branch in 1988. The Matawan-Long Branch voltage converted from 12.5 kV 60 Hz system to the 25 kV 60 Hz in 2002. | |
Northeast Corridor (NEC), Amtrak | New Haven to Boston | electrified in 2000; see Amtrak's 60 Hz Traction Power System | |
Denver RTD | Denver | opened in 2016; separate 750 V DC system for light rail | |
Texas Utilities, Monticello & Martin Lake | Texas | see E25B and Internet reference[23] | |
Navajo Mine Railroad | New Mexico |
Conductor rail systems
600 V DC conductor
All third rail unless stated otherwise.
Used by most older US subways.
Using this type of electrification |
No longer using this type of electrification |
Type | Country | Name of system | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Top contact | Argentina | Urquiza Line | Buenos Aires | Federico Lacroze-General Lemos |
Top contact | Canada | Toronto Subway and Rapid Transit | Toronto | only on subway lines |
Top contact | Greece | EIS/ISAP | Athens | used between 1904 and 1985, now 750 V |
Italy | Superga Rack Railway | Turin | ||
Top contact | Japan | Tokyo Metro Ginza Line and Marunouchi Line | Tokyo | |
Japan | Nagoya Municipal Subway Higashiyama Line and Meijō Line | Nagoya, Aichi | ||
Top contact | Sweden | Stockholm Metro | Stockholm | 650 V, Green and Red Lines |
United Kingdom | Glasgow Subway | Glasgow | ||
United Kingdom | Southern Railway | some areas up to 1939 | ||
Top contact | United States | Chicago "L" | Chicago | elevated and subway lines |
Top contact | United States | Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority | Boston | Red and Orange Lines, the subway part of the Blue Line southwest of Airport Station |
Top contact | United States | New York City Subway | New York City | |
Top contact | United States | PATH | New York City metro area | |
Top contact | United States | Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority | Philadelphia | Broad Street subway |
United States | Walt Disney World Monorail System | Bay Lake, Florida |
750 V DC conductor
Conductor rail systems have been separated into tables based on whether they are top, side or bottom contact. All systems are third rail unless stated otherwise.
Using this type of electrification |
No longer using this type of electrification |
Bottom contact
Side contact
Country | Name of system | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Canada | Montreal Metro | Montreal | (guide bars, see DC, four-rail below) |
Chile | Santiago Metro | Santiago | |
Finland | Helsinki Metro | Helsinki | |
France | Paris Métro (Rubber tired) | Paris | Positive (and sometimes negative) polarity on guide bars. See DC, four-rail below. |
Lyon Métro | Lyon | ||
Marseille Métro | Marseille | ||
Lille Métro | Lille | ||
Rennes Métro | Rennes | ||
Toulouse Métro | Toulouse | ||
Hong Kong | Hong Kong International Airport Automated People Mover (APM) |
Hong Kong | Mitsubishi "Crystal Mover" system using two power rails (positive and negative) with side collection. |
Japan | Sapporo Municipal Subway Namboku Line | Sapporo, Hokkaido | |
Singapore | Light Rail Transit | Singapore | Sengkang LRT Line and Punggol LRT Line operated by SBS Transit |
Sentosa Express | Singapore | Sentosa Express operated by SDC | |
United States | Las Vegas Monorail | Las Vegas |
Top contact
Not yet determined
Type | Country | Name of system | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
See note | China | Tianjin Metro | Tianjin | Ttp contact in Line 1, bottom contact in Lines 2 and 3 |
See notes | Germany | Berlin U-Bahn | Berlin | top and bottom contact and positive and negative voltage used on different lines |
Russia | undergrounds and metros | |||
Ukraine | Kiev Metro | Kiev | ||
Ukraine | Kharkiv Metro | Kharkiv | ||
Ukraine | Dnipropetrovs'k Metro | Dnipropetrovs'k | Dnipropetrovsk metro system, opened in 1995, consists of one line and 6 stations |
Systems using non-standard voltages
Overhead systems (DC voltage)
Voltage | Name of system | Location | Country | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
120 | Seaton Tramway | Seaton, Devon | UK | Half scale trams. Operated 1969-now. Substations have battery banks for back up. |
250 | Chicago Tunnel Company | Chicago | United States | operated 1906–1959 |
500 | Hong Kong Tramways | Hong Kong | Hong Kong | |
525 | Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren | Lauterbrunnen | Switzerland | |
550 | Manx Electric Railway | Isle of Man | Isle of Man | including Snaefell Mountain Railway |
Kolkata Trams | Kolkata | India | ||
650 | Pittsburgh Light Rail | Pittsburgh | United States | |
Basel Trams (BVB/BLT) | Basel | Switzerland | ||
700 | Chemin de fer Bex-Villars-Bretaye | Bex – Col de Bretaye, Vaud | Switzerland | |
800 | Szybka Kolej Miejska (Tricity) | Tricity | Poland | Operated 1951-1976. Converted to 3,000 V DC in 1976. |
850 | Ferrovia Monte Generoso (MG) | Capolago – Monte Generoso, Ticino | Switzerland | |
900 | Gruyere – Fribourg – Morat | Fribourg | Switzerland | |
Montreux-Oberland Bernois | Montreux | Switzerland | ||
1,000 | Rhätische Bahn (RhB) | St Moritz, Graubunden – Tirano, Lombardy | Switzerland Italy | Bernina line only; remainder of system electrified at 11 kV AC, 16 2⁄3 Hz. The Bernina line is an international line linking Switzerland (St. Moritz) with Italy (Tirano) |
Budapest (HÉV) | Budapest | Hungary | ||
1,100 | Buenos Aires Metro (Subterráneos de Buenos Aires) | Buenos Aires | Argentina | only Line A (converted to 1,500 V DC with La Brugeoise trains replaced by new rolling stock in 2013) |
1,250 | Regionalverkehr Bern-Solothurn (RBS) | Canton Bern | Switzerland | All lines except tram line 6 between Bern and Worb, which is electrified at 600 V DC[3] |
1,350 | Ferrovia Domodossola–Locarno (FART/SSIF) | Domodossola, Piedmont – Locarno, Ticino | Italy Switzerland | International railway between Italy (Domodossola) and Switzerland (Locarno) |
Ferrovia Lugano–Ponte Tresa (FLP) | Lugano – Ponte Tresa, Canton Ticino | Switzerland | ||
2,400 | Lausitzer | Germany | work line of the Lausitzer Brown Coal AG company | |
Chemin de fer de La Mure | Grenoble | France | −1,200 V, +1,200 V two wire system from 1903 to 1950. 2,400 V since 1950.[24] | |
3,500 | Bury – Holcombe Brook | Manchester | UK | operated 1913–1918 |
6,000 | Russia | experiments in the late 1970s (3,000 V DC lines) |
Overhead systems (AC voltage)
Voltage | Frequency | Name of system | Location | Country | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
5,500 | 16 2⁄3 Hz | Ammergau Railway (German: Ammergaubahn) | Murnau | Germany | 1905–1955, after 1955 15 kV, 16.7 Hz |
6,000 | 50 Hz | Germany | factory railway of Rheinbraun AG | ||
6,250 | Great Eastern suburban lines | London | UK | Great Eastern suburban lines from Liverpool Street London, 1950s–c1980 (converted to 25 kV) | |
Glasgow suburban lines | Glasgow | UK | Sections of the North Clyde Line and Cathcart Circle Line from 1960-1970s | ||
6,300 | 25 Hz | Hamburg S-Bahn | Hamburg | Germany | Operated with AC 1907–1955. Used both AC and DC (1,200 V 3rd rail) 1940–1955. |
6,500 | Mariazellerbahn | Sankt Pölten | Austria | ||
6,600 | Thamshavnbanen | Orkdal | Norway | ||
6,600 | 50 Hz | Hambachbahn and Nord-Süd-Bahn | Cologne Lowland | Germany | transports lignite from open-pit mines to powerplants |
8 kV | 25 Hz | Alb Valley Railway (German: Albtalbahn) | Karlsruhe | Germany | 1911–1966, today using 750 V DC |
10 kV | Hofpleinlijn | The Hague - Rotterdam | Netherlands | from 1908, in 1926 converted to 1,500 DC, In 2006 replaced by 750 V DC light rail | |
10 kV | 50 Hz | Russian Railways | industrial railways at quarries | Russia | operated from 1950-s at coal and ore quarries |
Ukrainian Railways | Ukraine | ||||
some private industrial railways in Kazakhstan | Kazakhstan | ||||
11 kV | 16 2⁄3 Hz | Rhätische Bahn (RhB) | Graubünden | Switzerland | Except the Bernina line, which is electrified at 1,000 V DC |
Matterhorn-Gotthard-Bahn (MGB) | formerly Furka-Oberalp-Bahn (FO) and BVZ Zermatt-Bahn | ||||
25 Hz | Pennsylvania Railroad Etc., |
United States | All lines now 12.5 kV 25 Hz or 12.5 kV 60 Hz See Railroad electrification in the United States | ||
50 Hz | Mont Blanc Tramway | France | |||
12 kV | 16 2⁄3 Hz | Chemin de fer du Midi | lines in Pyrenees | France | most converted to 1,500 V 1922–23; Villefranche-Perpignan diesel 1971, then 1,500 V 1984 |
12.5 kV | 25 Hz | Northeast Corridor (NEC), Amtrak | Washington, DC - New York City | United States | 11 kV until 1978 |
Keystone Corridor, Amtrak | Harrisburg, PA to Philadelphia, PA | 11 kV until 1978 | |||
SEPTA | Philadelphia | Regional Rail system only; 11 kV until 1978 | |||
North Jersey Coast Line, New Jersey Transit | Rahway to Aberdeen-Matawan, New Jersey | 11 kV until 1978 | |||
60 Hz | North Jersey Coast Line, New Jersey Transit | Aberdeen-Matawan to Long Branch, New Jersey | 1988-2002, today using 25 kV 60 Hz | ||
New Haven Line, Metro-North Railroad | Pelham, NY-New Haven, CT | ||||
20 kV | 50 Hz | Höllentalbahn | Freiburg | Germany | Operated 1933–1960. Converted to 15 kV 16 2⁄3 Hz. |
Société Nationale des Chemins de fer (SNCF) | Aix-les-Bains – La Roche-sur-Foron | France | Operated 1950–1953. Converted to 25 kV 50 Hz. | ||
most electrified JR/the third sector lines in Hokkaidō and Tōhoku | JR East, JR Hokkaidō, and others | Japan | |||
60 Hz | most electrified JR/the third sector lines in Kyūshū and Hokuriku region | JR Kyūshū and others | |||
50 kV | 50 Hz | Sishen–Saldanha railway line | Northern Cape, Western Cape | South Africa | opened in 1976 and hauls iron ore |
60 Hz | Tumbler Ridge Subdivision of BC Rail (Now Canadian National Railway) | British Columbia | Canada | Opened in 1983 to serve a coal mine in the northern Rocky Mountains. No longer in use. | |
Black Mesa and Lake Powell Railroad | Arizona | United States | First line to use 50 kV electrification when it opened in 1973. This is an isolated coal-hauling short line. | ||
Deseret Power Railroad (formerly Deseret Western Railway) | Utah |
Conductor rail systems (all DC voltage)
Conductor rail systems have been separated into tables based on whether they are top, side or bottom contact.
Top contact systems
Voltage | Type | Name of system | Location | Country | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
50 | See notes | Volk's Electric Railway | Brighton | UK | Volk's Railway prior to 1884 (current fed through running rails) |
110 | third rail | the world's oldest operational electric railway | |||
160 | Volk's Railway between 1884 and 1980s | ||||
100 | fourth rail | Monorail at National Motor Museum | Beaulieu | UK | current fed by 2 contact wires |
180 | See notes | Siemens streetcar | Berlin-Lichterfelde | Germany | Current fed through the running rails Operated 1881–1891 |
200 | third rail | Southend Pier Railway | Southend | UK | Until 1902[25] |
250 | Hythe Pier Railway | Hythe, Hampshire | |||
Chicago Tunnel Company | Chicago, Illinois | USA | Morgan Rack 1904, revenue service 1906–1908 | ||
400 | Berchtesgaden Salt Mine Railway | Berchtesgaden | Germany | ||
440 | Post Office Railway | London | UK | disused since 2003[26] 150 V is used in station areas to limit train speed | |
550 | Buenos Aires Metro (Subterráneos de Buenos Aires) | Buenos Aires | Argentina | only Line B | |
630 | Island Line | Isle of Wight | UK | ||
630 | 4th rail | London Underground (LUL) | London | Supplied at +420 V and -210 V (630 V total); It is proposed to increase the voltage to 750 V (+500 V and -250 V)[27] | |
650 | See notes | Euston to Watford DC Line | London | Third rail with fourth rail bonded to running rail To enable London Underground trains to operate between Queens Park and Harrow & Wealdstone. Similar bonding arrangements are used on the North London Line between Richmond and Gunnersbury and South West Trains Putney Bridge to Wimbledon. | |
660 | third rail | Southern Railway & LSWR | original standard, mostly upgraded to 750 V (except for sections that operate with LUL stock). | ||
800 | third rail | Berlin S-Bahn | Berlin | Germany | |
Mitre Line | Buenos Aires | Argentina | Retiro - José León Suárez Retiro - Bartolomé Mitre Retiro - Tigre | ||
Sarmiento Line | Once - Moreno | ||||
825 | Moscow Metro | Moscow | Russia | ||
Pyongyang Metro | Pyongyang | North Korea | uses old 750 V Berlin U-Bahn rolling stock | ||
1000 | Bay Area Rapid Transit | San Francisco | USA | [28] | |
1500 | Culoz–Modane railway | Chambéry - Modane | France | used between 1925 and 1976, today overhead wire |
Side contact systems
Voltage | Type | Name of system | Location | Country | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
850 | Third Rail | Ligne de Saint Gervais - Vallorcine | Martigny | France | |
1200 | Third Rail | Manchester-Bury | Manchester | UK | Dismantled 1991, converted to Manchester Metrolink tramway (750 V DC overhead) |
1200 | Third Rail | Hamburg S-Bahn | Hamburg | Germany | Since 1940. Used both third rail DC (1200 V) and overhead line AC (6300 V 25 Hz) until 1955. Also uses German standard 15 kV, 16 2/3 Hz overhead electrification on the section between Neugraben and Stade on line S3, opened in December 2007. |
Bottom contact systems
Voltage | Type | Name of system | Location | Country | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
650 | third rail | SkyTrain | Vancouver | Canada | Expo Line (1985) and Millennium Line (2006) |
700 | third rail | Metro-North Railroad | New York | United States | Hudson and Harlem Lines, southern part of New Haven Line. Original New York Central Railroad electrification scheme to Grand Central Terminal. |
Market-Frankford Line | Philadelphia | Originally 600 V, raised to 700 V | |||
825 | third rail | Sofia Metro | Sofia | Bulgaria | |
850 | third rail | Ligne de Cerdagne | Villefranche | France | Often referred to as the "Yellow Train" |
Wiener Lokalbahn | Vienna | Austria | |||
900 | third rail | Brussels Metro | Brussels | Belgium | |
1500 | third rail | Guangzhou Metro Line 4, Line 5 and Line 6 | Guangzhou | China | Overhead wires in depots; all trains are equipped with pantographs |
third rail | Shenzhen Metro Line 3 | Shenzhen | |||
third rail | Shanghai Metro Line 16 | Shanghai | Overhead wires in depot; all trains are equipped with pantographs | ||
third rail | Beijing Subway Line 7 | Beijing | |||
Three-phase systems
Two wires
Voltage | Current | Name of system | Location | Country | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
725 | 50 Hz, 3Ø | Gornergratbahn | Zermatt – Gornergrat, Valais | Switzerland | |
750 | 40 Hz, 3Ø | Burgdorf-Thun Bahn | Burgdorf – Thun | Operated 1899–1933 converted to 15 kV 16 2⁄3 Hz in 1933 | |
800 | 60 Hz, 3Ø | Corcovado Rack Railway | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | |
1125 | 50 Hz, 3Ø | Jungfraubahn | Interlaken | Switzerland | |
3000 | 15 Hz, 3Ø | Valtellina Electrification | Northern Italy | 1902–1917 | |
50 Hz, 3Ø | Chemin de Fer de la Rhune | France | |||
3000 | 16 Hz, 3Ø | Simplon Tunnel | Switzerland, Italy | Simplon Bahn, 1906–1930 | |
3600 | 16 2⁄3 Hz, 3Ø | Italy | operated 1912–1976 in Upper Italy (more info needed) | ||
FS | Porrettana railway | 1927–1935 | |||
3700 | 16 2⁄3 Hz, 3Ø | Brenner Railway | Trento/Trient to Brenner | Germany | 1929 - 1965 |
5200 | 25 Hz, 3Ø | Almeria – Gergal | Spain | 1911–1966? | |
6600 | 25 Hz, 3Ø | Great Northern Railway (U.S.) | Cascade Tunnel | United States | 1909 - 1929 |
10 kV | 45 Hz, 3Ø | FS | Roma - Sulmona | Italy | 1929–1944 |
Three wires
Voltage | Current | Name of system | Location | Country | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3000 V | 50 Hz | Zahnradbahn Tagebau Gruhlwerk | Kierberg | Germany | rack railway (0.7 km) operated 1927–1949 |
10000 V | 50 Hz | Berlin - Lichtenhain | test track (1.8 km); variable voltage and frequency; trial runs 1898–1901 | ||
14 kV (See notes) |
38 Hz - 48 Hz (See notes) |
Zossen - Marienfelde | test track (23.4 km); trial runs 1901–1904 variable voltage between 10 kV and 14 kV and frequency between 38 Hz and 48 Hz. | ||
50 Hz | Ship elevator of Krasnoyarsk Reservoir | Russia | length: 1.5 km, 9000 mm gauge |
Special or unusual types
DC, plough collection from conductors in conduit below track
- London County Council Tramways, later operated by London Transport
- streetcars in New York City (Manhattan), New York
- Washington, D.C. streetcars
- Panama Canal locks' ship handlers (called mules)
DC, one ground-level conductor
- Wolverhampton Corporation Tramways, England (stud contact) (1902–1921)
- Bordeaux Tramway, France (conductor rail)
DC, two-wire
- Greenwich, England. Previously used by trams when in the vicinity of Greenwich Observatory; separate from trolleybus supply.
- Cincinnati, Ohio, US. Tram (streetcar) system used this arrangement throughout, probably due to legal constraints on ground return currents.
- Havana and Guanabacoa, Cuba. Tram (streetcar) systems in both cities used this arrangement.
DC, power from running rails
- Gross-Lichterfelde Tramway (1881–1893), 180 V
- Ungerer Tramway (1886–1895)
- transportable railways as a ride for children
DC, four-rail
Voltage | Type | Contact system | Name of system | Location | Country | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
750 | guide bars | lateral to both guide bars (one guide connected to running rail) | Paris Metro | Paris | France | rubber-tyred lines only |
Lateral (positive) and top of running rails (negative) contact | Montreal Metro | Montreal | Canada | rubber-tyred lines | ||
Mexico City Metro | Mexico City | Mexico | rubber-tyred lines | |||
Third and fourth rail | lateral (positive) and top (negative) contact | Milan Transportation System | Milan | Italy | metro (only line 1) | |
630 | Top contact | London Underground | London | UK | Transport for London[29] |
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ BS EN 50163 (2007).
- ↑ IEC 60850 (2007).
- 1 2 Schweers+Wall (2012), p. 66.
- ↑ page 5
- ↑ Sóller Website
- ↑ Schweers+Wall (2012), p. 11.
- ↑ Schweers+Wall (2012), p. 19.
- ↑ "Bahn S4/S10" [Railway S4/S10] (in German). SZU. Retrieved 2011-09-01.
- ↑ Barrow, Keith (14 March 2014). "Cairo to order new trains for metro Line 1". International Railway Journal. Simmons-Boardman Publishing Inc. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ↑ "Cairo Metro Tender for New Rolling Stock". MENA RAIL POST. MENA RAIL POST. 16 March 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ↑ Boddy et al. (1990), p.101 & p.142
- ↑ Boddy et al. (1990), p. 135.
- ↑ Dixon (1994), p. 119.
- ↑ Boddy et al. (1990), p. 139.
- ↑ Swain (1990), p. 19.
- ↑ Boddy et al. (1990), p. 92–93.
- ↑ Railway Gazette International April 2008, p 240
- ↑ Electrified D. L. & W. Time magazine archives Retrieved 2007-08-12
- ↑ "Indian Railways FAQ:Electric Traction - I". Indian Railways Fan Club. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
- ↑ "Israel Railways awards USD 500m electrification contract to Spanish SEMI". Think Railways. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- ↑ http://www.railwaysafrica.com/blog/2011/06/new-25kv-electrification-in-tunisia/
- ↑ "Espacio del Viajero: Conoce los Trenes" (in Spanish). Mexico City: Ferrocarriles Suburbanos. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
Alimentación (Vcc. catenaria): 25000, 60Hz
- ↑ "TXU - Monticello Line". Trainweb.org. 1999-11-02. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
- ↑ Chemin de fer de La Mure
- ↑ "Southend Pier Railway".
- ↑ Disused since 2003
- ↑ London Underground (October 2014), New Tube for London - Feasibility Report (PDF), p. 26
- ↑ "BART System Facts". San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
- ↑ "Tube | Transport for London". Tfl.gov.uk. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
References
- BS EN 50163 (2007), EN 50163: Railway applications. Supply voltages of traction systems, IET
- IEC 60850 (2007), IEC 60850: Railway applications - Supply voltages of traction systems (3rd ed.)
- Boddy, M.G.; Fry, E.V.; Hennigan, W.; Hoole, Ken; Mallaband, Peter; Neve, E.; Price, J.H.; Proud, P.; Yeadon, W.B. (April 1990). Fry, E.V., ed. Locomotives of the L.N.E.R., part 10B: Railcars and Electric Stock. Lincoln: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-66-5.
- Dixon, Frank (1994) [1973]. The Manchester South Junction & Altrincham Railway. The Oakwood Library of Railway History (2nd ed.). Headington: Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-454-7. OL34.
- Schweers+Wall (2012). Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz. Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH. ISBN 978-3-89494-130-7.
- Swain, Alec (1990). British Rail Fleet Survey 11: Overhead Line Electric Multiple-Units. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1902-9.
External links
- http://www.bahnstrom.de/bahnstromsysteme/weltweit_kopf.htm
- Map of European voltage-systems
- Southern Electric, England - details of electrification