List of railway electrification systems

This is a list of the power supply systems that are, or have been, used for railway electrification.

Note that the voltages are nominal and vary depending on load and distance from the substation.

, many trams and trains use on-board solid-state electronics to convert these supplies to run three-phase AC traction motors.

Tram electrification systems are listed here.

Key to the tables below

• Volts: voltage or volt
• Current:
• DC = direct current
• # Hz = frequency in hertz (alternating current (AC))
• AC supplies are usually single-phase (1φ) except where marked three-phase (3φ).
• 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, most affected by ice, snow, rain and leaves. Protection boards are 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

1,200 V DC

1,500 V DC

3 kV DC

AC,  Hz /

AC,

AC,

Conductor rail systems

600 V DC conductor

All systems are third rail 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

1,200 V DC conductor

All systems are third rail unless stated otherwise.

1,500 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)

All systems are 3-phase unless otherwise noted.

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)
• Sydney Light Rail (tramway)
• Rio de Janeiro Light Rail, Brazil

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.
• Lisbon, Portugal. Elevador da Bica, Elevador da Glória and Elevador da Lavra.

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

See also

• Amtrak's 25 Hz traction power system
• Conduit current collection
• Current collector
• Ground level power supply
• List of tram systems by gauge and electrification
• Railway electrification
• Railroad electrification in the United States
• Third rail
• Traction current pylon

Footnotes

References

External links

• Electrification systems, track gauges and electrified track lengths in selected countries (in German)
• Map of European voltage systems
• Southern Electric, England—details of 3rd rail electrification