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.
Tram electrification systems are listed
here
Here is an adverb that means "in, on, or at this place". It may also refer to:
Software
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* Here WeGo (formerly Here Maps), a mobile app and map website by Here Technologies, Here
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* Here TV (form ...
.
Key to the tables below
* Volts:
voltage
Voltage, also known as electric pressure, electric tension, or (electric) potential difference, is the difference in electric potential between two points. In a static electric field, it corresponds to the work needed per unit of charge to ...
or
volt
The volt (symbol: V) is the unit of electric potential, electric potential difference (voltage), and electromotive force in the International System of Units (SI). It is named after the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta (1745–1827).
Defin ...
* Current:
** DC =
direct current
Direct current (DC) is one-directional flow of electric charge. An electrochemical cell is a prime example of DC power. Direct current may flow through a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through semiconductors, insulators, or eve ...
** # Hz =
frequency
Frequency is the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit of time. It is also occasionally referred to as ''temporal frequency'' for clarity, and is distinct from ''angular frequency''. Frequency is measured in hertz (Hz) which is eq ...
in
hertz
The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose expression in terms of SI base units is s−1, meaning that o ...
(
alternating current
Alternating current (AC) is an electric current which periodically reverses direction and changes its magnitude continuously with time in contrast to direct current (DC) which flows only in one direction. Alternating current is the form in whic ...
(AC))
*** AC supplies are usually
single-phase
In electrical engineering, single-phase electric power (abbreviated 1φ) is the distribution of alternating current electric power using a system in which all the voltages of the supply vary in unison. Single-phase distribution is used when load ...
(1Ø) except where marked
three-phase (3Ø).
* Conductors:
**
overhead line
An overhead line or overhead wire is an electrical cable that is used to transmit electrical energy to electric locomotives, trolleybuses or trams. It is known variously as:
* Overhead catenary
* Overhead contact system (OCS)
* Overhead equipm ...
or
** conductor rail, usually a
third rail
A third rail, also known as a live rail, electric rail or conductor rail, is a method of providing electric power to a railway locomotive or train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway ...
to one side of the running rails. Conductor rail can be:
*** top contact: oldest, least safe, most affected by ice, snow, rain and leaves. Protection boards are being installed on most top contact systems, which increases safety and reduces these affections.
*** side contact: newer, safer, less affected by ice, snow, rain and leaves
*** bottom contact: newest, safest, least affected by ice, snow, rain and leaves
Systems using standard voltages
Voltages are defined by two standards: BS EN 50163 and IEC 60850.
Overhead systems
600 V DC
750 V DC
1200 V DC
1500 V DC
3 kV DC
AC, Hz /
AC,
AC,
Conductor rail systems
600 V DC conductor
All systems are
third rail
A third rail, also known as a live rail, electric rail or conductor rail, is a method of providing electric power to a railway locomotive or train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway ...
unless stated otherwise. Used by some older metros.
750 V DC conductor
Conductor rail systems have been separated into tables based on whether they are top, side or bottom contact. Used by most metros outside Asia and the former Eastern bloc.
=Bottom contact
=
= Side contact
=
= Top contact
=
= Mixed
=
1200 V DC conductor
All systems are third rail and side contact unless stated otherwise.
1500 V DC conductor
All systems are third rail unless stated otherwise.
Systems using non-standard voltages
Overhead systems
DC voltage
AC voltage
Three-phase AC voltage
= Two wires
=
= Three wires
=
Conductor rail systems (DC voltage)
Conductor rail systems have been separated into tables based on whether they are top, side or bottom contact.
Top contact systems
Side contact systems
All third rail unless otherwise stated.
Bottom contact systems
All third rail unless otherwise stated.
Conductor rail systems (AC voltage)
Special or unusual types
DC, plough collection from conductors in conduit below track
*
London County Council Tramways
The London County Council Tramways was an extensive network of public street tramways operated by the council throughout the County of London, UK, from 1899 to 1933, when they were taken over by the London Passenger Transport Board.
Acquisit ...
, 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
The Bordeaux tramway network (french: Tramway de Bordeaux) consists of four lines serving the city of Bordeaux in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. The system has a route length of , serving a total of 133 tram stops.
The first line of ...
, France (
conductor rail)
* Sydney Light Rail (tramway)
DC, two-wire
*
Greenwich
Greenwich ( , ,) is a town in south-east London, England, within the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is situated east-southeast of Charing Cross.
Greenwich is notable for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich ...
, England. Previously used by trams when in the vicinity of
Greenwich Observatory
The Royal Observatory, Greenwich (ROG; known as the Old Royal Observatory from 1957 to 1998, when the working Royal Greenwich Observatory, RGO, temporarily moved south from Greenwich to Herstmonceux) is an observatory situated on a hill in G ...
; separate from trolleybus supply.
*
Cincinnati
Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...
,
Ohio
Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
, US. Tram (streetcar) system used this arrangement throughout, probably due to legal constraints on ground return currents.
*
Havana
Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center. and
Guanabacoa
Guanabacoa is a colonial township in eastern Havana, Cuba, and one of the 15 municipalities (or boroughs) of the city. It is famous for its historical Santería and is home to the first African Cabildo in Havana. Guanabacoa was briefly the capital ...
, Cuba. Tram (streetcar) systems in both cities used this arrangement.
*
Lisbon, Portugal.
Elevador da Bica,
Elevador da Glória and Elevador da Lavra.
DC, power from running rails
*
Gross-Lichterfelde Tramway
The Gross Lichterfelde Tramway was one of the world's first electric tramways ( Miller's line was electrified in 1875). It was built by the Siemens & Halske company in Lichterfelde, a suburb of Berlin, and went in service on 16 May 1881.
Ove ...
(1881–1893), 180 V
*
Ungerer Tramway
The Ungerer Tramway was the first electrical tramway in Munich. It was built by engineer and owner of the Ungerer Bath, August Ungerer to connect the bath with the 750 m distant stop of the horse powered tramway. The 1.2 km long Ungerer ...
(1886–1895)
* transportable railways as a ride for children
DC, four-rail
See also
*
Third rail
A third rail, also known as a live rail, electric rail or conductor rail, is a method of providing electric power to a railway locomotive or train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway ...
*
Railway electrification system
*
Railroad electrification in the United States
Railroad electrification in the United States began at the turn of the 20th century and comprised many different systems in many different geographical areas, few of which were connected. Despite this situation, these systems shared a small number ...
*
Ground level power supply
Ground-level power supply, also known as surface current collection or, in French, ''alimentation par le sol'' ("feeding via the ground"), is a concept and group of technologies whereby electric vehicles collect electric power at ground level fr ...
*
Conduit current collection
Conduit current collection is an obsolete system of electric current collection used by some electric tramways, where the power supply was carried in a 'conduit' (a small tunnel) under the roadway. Modern systems fall under the term ground-leve ...
*
Current collector
Electric current collectors are used by trolleybuses, trams, electric locomotives or EMUs to carry electrical power from overhead lines, electrical third rails, or ground-level power supplies to the electrical equipment of the vehicles. Those for ...
*
Amtrak's 25 Hz traction power system
Amtrak's 25 Hz traction power system is a Traction power network, traction power grid operated by Amtrak along the southern portion of its Northeast Corridor (NEC): the 226.6 route miles (362 km) between Washington, D.C. and New York ...
*
List of tram systems by gauge and electrification
The following is a list of tram/streetcar (including heritage trams/heritage streetcars), or light rail systems with their track length, track gauge, electrification system.
The vast majority of tram systems use . Generally, standard gauge ...
*
Traction current pylon
A traction current pylon is a railroad pylon carrying at least one circuit for traction current. In Germany, traction current lines with two systems (4 conductor cables) typically have a single level arrangement of the conductor cables. For trac ...
Footnotes
References
*
*
*
*
*
*
External links
Electrification systems, track gauges and electrified track lengths in selected countries(in German)
Map of European voltage systems England—details of 3rd rail electrification
{{DEFAULTSORT:List of railway electrification systems
Electric rail traction
Rail
Rail or rails may refer to:
Rail transport
*Rail transport and related matters
*Rail (rail transport) or railway lines, the running surface of a railway
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* ''Rail'' ( ...
Electric rail transport