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There are 15,687 km of electrified railways in France, making up approximately 55% of the network in use.
For historical reason there are two norms of electrification that coexist in
There are 15,687 km of electrified railways in France, making up approximately 55% of the network in use.
For historical reason there are two norms of electrification that coexist in France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
: 1,500 V DC and 25 kV 50 Hz AC.
The electrification of the French railway network was made in four phases.
First, at the start of the 20th century, there was a phase of testing and technological exploration. Third rails and 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 equipmen ...
s were on trial in some lines in France; different voltages were tried. Afterwards, in the 1920s, the main lines starting from Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
and lines in the Pyrenees
The Pyrenees (; es, Pirineos ; french: Pyrénées ; ca, Pirineu ; eu, Pirinioak ; oc, Pirenèus ; an, Pirineus) is a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. It extends nearly from its union with the Cantabrian Mountains to C ...
were electrified with 1,500 V DC.
After World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
and with the improvements in power electronics
Power electronics is the application of electronics to the control and conversion of electric power.
The first high-power electronic devices were made using mercury-arc valves. In modern systems, the conversion is performed with semiconducto ...
, tests were made with 20 kV AC and subsequently with 25 kV AC in the Alps
The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Sw ...
, which was considered satisfactory. Then the North and the East of France were electrified with 25 kV AC, and some lines were electrified with 1,500 V DC in the South.
From the 1970s to now, the electrification of the French network has continued mainly with 25 kV to bring electrically powered TGV
The TGV (french: Train à Grande Vitesse, "high-speed train"; previously french: TurboTrain à Grande Vitesse, label=none) is France's intercity high-speed rail service, operated by SNCF. SNCF worked on a high-speed rail network from 1966 to 19 ...
s to some cities.
The use of two norms of electrification was a huge problem for the SNCF up to the 1970s, because there was not much equipment able to run under both standards. Today, all electrical equipment ordered by the SNCF can use both 25 kV AC and 1,500 V DC.
References
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
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