List of railway electrification systems
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.
Trams electrification systems are listed here.
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, most affected by ice, snow, rain and leaves
- side contact: newer, safer, less affected by ice, snow, rain and leaves
- bottom contact: newest, safest, least affected by ice, snow, rain and leaves
- Conductor rail can be:
Systems using standard voltages
Voltages are defined by two standards: BS EN 50163[1] and IEC 60850.[2]
600 V DC
Country | Location | Name of system | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Many tram systems | This voltage is mostly used by older tram systems worldwide but by a few new ones as well. See List of tram systems by gauge and electrification | ||
Australia | Adelaide | Trams in Adelaide | |
Melbourne | Melbourne Tramway Network | ||
Hungary | Budapest | Budapest Metro | Line M1 |
Japan | Chōshi, Chiba | Chōshi Electric Railway | |
Kyoto, Kyoto | Eizan Electric Railway | ||
Kanagawa | Enoshima Electric Railway | ||
Matsuyama, Ehime | Iyotetsu Takahama Line | ||
Shizuoka, Shizuoka | Shizuoka Railway | ||
Romania | Sibiu county | Sibiu-Răşinari Narrow Gauge Railway | part of the former Sibiu tram line |
Spain | Madrid | Madrid Metro | lines 1, 4, 5, 6 and 9. In process to be converted to 1500 V |
750 V DC
1,200 V DC
1,500 V DC
3 kV DC
Country | Location | Name of system | Note |
---|---|---|---|
Belgium | Nationwide | Belgium National Railways (SNCB) | National standard. 25 kV AC used on high speed lines and some lines in the south area. |
Brazil | Rio de Janeiro suburban network; | SuperVia Trens Urbanos; | |
Canada | Montreal | Deux-Montagnes Line | built by CNoR in 1918 as 2400 V DC, converted to 3000 V DC in the 1980s, converted to 25 kV AC/60 Hz in 1995 by ARTM, being converted to 1500 V DC for the REM system. |
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 | Elron | 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) | commuter rail only, to be converted to 25 kV AC which to be intended to connect with Russia, Belarus and Lithuania. | |
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[15] | |
Warszawa and suburbs | Warszawska Kolej Dojazdowa (WKD) | 600 V DC until 27 May 2016 | |
Russian Federation | Russian Railways (RZD) | new electrification use only 25 kV AC, except Moscow Central Circle and other interconnection lines in Moscow, and 2 interconnection lines (Veymarn line and Kamennogorsk line) in St. Petersberg. For Sverdlovsk railway and West Siberian railway to be converted to 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 | ADIF (Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias) | 25 kV AC used on 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[16] | |
United States | New Jersey, lines towards New York City | Morris & Essex Lines | By Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad in 1930.[17] Converted to 25 kV 60 Hz by NJT in 1984 |
15 kV AC, 16 2⁄3 Hz / 16.7 Hz
Country | Location | Name of system | 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 | Canton of Bern | BLS | |
Central Switzerland and Bernese Highlands | Zentralbahn | ||
Canton of Vaud | Chemin de fer Bière-Apples-Morges (BAM) | ||
Canton of Zürich | Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn | 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 | |
Throughout the country | Swiss Federal Railways | ||
25 kV AC, 50 Hz
Country | Location | Name of system | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Argentina | Buenos Aires | Roca Line | Constitución - Ezeiza Constitución - Alejandro Korn Constitución - Bosques Constitución - La Plata |
Australia | Queensland: Brisbane, North Coast Line, Blackwater and Goonyella Coal Railways | Queensland Rail | |
Western Australia: Perth | Transperth | ||
South Australia: Adelaide | Adelaide Metro | Seaford line electrified (Gawler line being electrified) | |
Belarus | national standard | ||
Belgium | High-speed lines and some other lines | Belgium National Railways (NMBS/SNCB) | the rest of the network is 3 kV DC — see rail transport in Belgium |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Rail transport in Bosnia and Herzegovina | ||
Botswana | proposed line to Namibia | ||
Bulgaria | Bulgarian State Railways BDZ | ||
China | Nationwide | China Railway Corporation | national standard |
Beijing | Beijing Subway | Daxing Airport Line only | |
Chengdu | Chengdu Metro | Lines 17, 18 and 19 only | |
Wenzhou | Wenzhou Rail Transit | ||
Congo | |||
Croatia | Nationwide | Croatian Railways (HŽ) | national standard |
Czech Republic | Southern lines only (linking Karlovy Vary - Cheb - Plzeň - České Budějovice - Tábor - Jihlava - Brno - Břeclav - Slovakia) | Czech Railway Infrastructure Administration (SŽDC) | |
Denmark | nationwide | Banedanmark | See rail transport in Denmark |
Djibouti | Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway | Ethiopian Railway Corporation | |
Ethiopia | Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway | Ethiopian Railway Corporation | |
Finland | Nationwide | Finnish Railway network | National standard |
France | north and new lines | French National Railways (SNCF) | |
Germany | Harz | Rübelandbahn | |
Greece | Nationwide | Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE) | National standard. See Railways of Greece for details of progress. |
Hong Kong | Kowloon, New Territories | Mass Transit Railway Corporation (East Rail line) (West Rail line) and (Tuen Ma line) | |
Hungary | Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) and Raaberbahn (GYSEV) | ||
India | Nationwide | Indian Railways (IR) | Entire IR network uses the current system since 2016. |
Mumbai | Mumbai Suburban Railway | Conversion from 1.5 kV DC to the current system was completed in 2012 (for Western Line[18]) and 2016 (for Central Line[19][20][21]) respectively | |
Mumbai | Mumbai Metro (Line 1) | ||
Chennai (Madras) | Chennai Metro | ||
Delhi | Delhi Metro | ||
Iran | Planned | ||
Israel | Israel Railways | Construction contract awarded in December 2015.[22] Initial test runs began December 2017. | |
Italy | new high-speed lines only | ||
Japan | Kantō (northeast of Tokyo), Tōhoku, and Hokkaido regions | JR East Tohoku Shinkansen, Joetsu Shinkansen, and Hokuriku Shinkansen (sections between Tokyo - Karuizawa, and between Jōetsumyōkō - Itoigawa) JR Hokkaido Hokkaido Shinkansen |
60 Hz in some areas, see 60 Hz overhead below. |
Kazakhstan | |||
Latvia | Latvian Railways (LDz) | Eastern lines only (planned) | |
Lithuania | Kena — Kaunas and Lentvaris — Trakai | Lithuanian Railways (LG) | Electrification of Naujoji Vilnia – Kena —
Gudogai (BCh) route for Vilnius – Minsk (Belarus) services is established on 2017. Further Kaunas – Klaipeda corridor electrification will follow project. |
Luxembourg | nationwide | Chemins de fer luxembourgeois (CFL) | National standard, but the Luxembourg – Arlon line is electrified under 3 kV DC |
Malaysia | Padang Besar - KL Sentral - Gemas | KTM ETS (run through West Coast railway line), Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad | Under Construction: Hat Yai (in Thailand) - Padang Besar (to be opened by 2020) and Gemas - Johor Bahru (to be opened by 2022) |
Bukit Mertajam - Padang Regas and Butterworth - Padang Besar | KTM Komuter Northern Sector, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad | ||
Batu Caves - Pulau Sebang/Tampin, Tanjung Malim - Port Klang and KL Sentral - Terminal Skypark | KTM Komuter Central Sector (Seremban Line, Port Klang Line and Skypark Link), Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad | ||
KL Sentral - KLIA2 | Express Rail Link (KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit) | ||
Montenegro | Belgrade–Bar railway and Nikšić–Podgorica railway | Railways of Montenegro | |
Morocco | Kenitra–Tangier high-speed rail line | ONCF | Casablanca–Kenitra section of high-speed rail remains at 3 kV DC[23] |
Namibia | Proposed line to Botswana | ||
Netherlands | Used on new High Speed Lines and Freight Lines | Dutch Railways (NS) | 1.5 kV DC used on the rest of the network |
New Zealand | Auckland | Auckland suburban | 77 km between Swanson and Papakura; first service 28 April 2014 |
North Island Main Trunk Railway | Central North Island section, 411 km between Palmerston North and Hamilton | ||
North Macedonia | Makedonski Železnici | ||
Portugal | Portuguese Railways (CP) | except the Linha de Cascais (1500 V DC) | |
Romania | Romanian Railways (CFR) | ||
Russian Federation | Russian Railways (RZD) | National standard | |
Saudi Arabia | Haramain high-speed railway | Saudi Railways Organization | Renfe Operadora and Adif will operate the trains and manage the line until 2030 |
Serbia | nationwide | 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 | ADIF Alta Velocidad | High-speed lines only | |
South Africa | Transnet Freight Rail (TFR), Gautrain | ||
Thailand | Bangkok | Suvarnabhumi Airport Link | |
Tunisia | [24] | ||
Turkey | nationwide | Turkish State Railways (TCDD) | National standard |
United Kingdom | Nationwide | 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 | Gweru-Harare | National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) | 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 | Location | Name of system | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Canada | Montreal | Deux-Montagnes Line | built by CNoR in 1918 as 2400 V DC, converted to 3000 V DC in the 1980s, converted to 25 kV AC/60 Hz in 1995 by ARTM, being converted to 1500 V DC for the REM system. |
Japan | Kantō (west of Tokyo), Chūbu, Kansai, Chūgoku, and Kyushu regions | Tōkaidō-Sanyō Shinkansen Hokuriku Shinkansen (sections between Karuizawa - Jōetsumyōkō, and between Itoigawa - Kanazawa) Kyushu Shinkansen |
50 Hz in eastern Japan; see 25 kV AC 50 Hz overhead above |
South Korea | South Korea | Korail | all Korail freight/passenger lines except Seoul subway Line 3 (see 1500 V DC overhead above) |
Seoul | Shinbundang line | ||
Incheon, Seoul | A'REX | ||
Mexico | Mexico City | Ferrocarril Suburbano de la Zona Metropolitana del Valle de México | [25] |
Taiwan | Taiwan | Taiwan Railways Administration | all electrified lines |
Western Taiwan | Taiwan High Speed Rail | ||
United States | New Jersey | Morris & Essex Lines, New Jersey Transit | former 3,000 V DC system |
Aberdeen-Matawan to Long Branch, New Jersey | North Jersey Coast Line, New Jersey Transit | 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. | |
New York, NY to Boston | Northeast Corridor (NEC), Amtrak | electrified in 2000; see Amtrak's 60 Hz traction power system | |
Denver | Denver RTD | opened in 2016; separate 750 V DC system for light rail | |
San Francisco Peninsula | Caltrain | under construction, expected by 2022; see Electrification of Caltrain | |
New Mexico | Navajo Mine Railroad | ||
Texas | Texas Utilities, Monticello & Martin Lake | see E25B and Internet reference[26] | |
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 | Location | Name of system | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Top contact | Argentina | Buenos Aires | Urquiza Line | Federico Lacroze-General Lemos |
Top contact | Canada | Toronto | Toronto Subway and Rapid Transit | only on subway lines |
Top contact | Greece | Athens | EIS/ISAP | used between 1904 and 1985 |
Top contact | Italy | Turin | Superga Rack Railway | |
Top contact | Japan | Tokyo | Tokyo Metro Ginza Line and Marunouchi Line | |
Nagoya, Aichi | Nagoya Municipal Subway Higashiyama Line and Meijō Line | |||
Top contact | Sweden | Stockholm | Stockholm Metro | 650 V, Green and Red Lines |
Top contact | United Kingdom | Glasgow | Glasgow Subway | |
Top contact | United States | Boston | Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority | Red and Orange Lines, the subway part of the Blue Line southwest of Airport Station |
Top contact | Chicago | Chicago "L" | elevated and subway lines | |
Top contact | New York City | New York City Subway | ||
Top contact | Staten Island Railway | |||
Top contact | New York City metro area | PATH | ||
Top contact | Philadelphia | Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority | ||
Bay Lake, Florida | Walt Disney World Monorail System |
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.
Bottom contact
Side contact
Country | Location | Name of system | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Canada | Montreal | Montreal Metro | (guide bars, see DC, four-rail below) |
Chile | Santiago | Santiago Metro | |
France | Paris | Paris Métro (Rubber tired) | Positive (and sometimes negative) polarity on guide bars. See DC, four-rail below. |
Lyon | Lyon Métro | ||
Marseille | Marseille Métro | ||
Lille | Lille Métro | ||
Rennes | Rennes Métro | ||
Toulouse | Toulouse Métro | ||
Hong Kong | Hong Kong | Hong Kong International Airport Automated People Mover (APM) |
Mitsubishi "Crystal Mover" system using two power rails (positive and negative) with side collection. |
Indonesia | Palembang, South Sumatra | Palembang Light Rail Transit | |
Japan | Sapporo, Hokkaido | Sapporo Municipal Subway Namboku Line | |
Singapore | Singapore | Light Rail Transit | Sengkang LRT Line and Punggol LRT Line operated by SBS Transit |
Singapore | Sentosa Express | Sentosa Express operated by SDC | |
United States | Las Vegas | Las Vegas Monorail |
Top contact
Mixed
Using this type of electrification |
No longer using this type of electrification |
Type | Country | Location | Name of system | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
See note | China | Tianjin | Tianjin Metro | Top contact in Line 1, bottom contact in Lines 2 and 3 |
1200 V DC conductor
All systems are third rail unless stated otherwise.
Using this type of electrification |
No longer using this type of electrification |
Side contact
Country | Location | Name of system | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Germany | Hamburg | Hamburg S-Bahn | 15 kV/16.7 Hz with overhead line in part of network. |
United Kingdom | Manchester | Manchester-Bury | Dismantled 1991, converted to Manchester Metrolink tramway (750 V DC overhead) |
Systems using non-standard voltages
DC voltage
Voltage | Country | Location | Name of system | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
120 | United Kingdom | Seaton, Devon | Seaton Tramway | Half scale trams. Operated 1969-now. Substations have battery banks for back up. |
250 | United States | Chicago | Chicago Tunnel Company | operated 1906–1959 |
525 | Switzerland | Lauterbrunnen | Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren | |
550 | China | Hong Kong | Hong Kong Tramways | |
550 | Isle of Man | Isle of Man | Manx Electric Railway | including Snaefell Mountain Railway |
India | Kolkata | Trams in Kolkata | ||
650 | United States | Buffalo, New York | Buffalo Metro Rail | |
El Paso, Texas | El Paso Streetcar | |||
Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh Light Rail | |||
Switzerland | Basel | Basel Trams (BVB/BLT) | ||
700 | Switzerland | Bex – Col de Bretaye, Vaud | Chemin de fer Bex-Villars-Bretaye | |
740 | USA | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City Streetcar | |
800 | Poland | Tricity | Szybka Kolej Miejska (Tricity) | Operated 1951-1976. Converted to 3,000 V DC in 1976. |
825 | USA | Portland, Oregon | MAX, TriMet | light rail sections west of NE 9th Avenue & Holladay Street utilize a 750 V system |
850 | Switzerland | Capolago – Monte Generoso, Ticino | Ferrovia Monte Generoso (MG) | |
900 | Switzerland | Fribourg | Gruyere – Fribourg – Morat | |
Switzerland | Montreux | Montreux-Oberland Bernois | ||
1,000 | Switzerland Italy |
St Moritz, canton of Graubünden – Tirano, Lombardy | Rhätische Bahn (RhB) | 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) |
Hungary | Budapest | Budapest Commuter Rail and Rapid Transit (BHÉV) | [27] | |
1,100 | Argentina | Buenos Aires | Buenos Aires Metro (Subterráneos de Buenos Aires) | only Line A (converted to 1,500 V DC with La Brugeoise trains replaced by new rolling stock in 2013) |
1,250 | Switzerland | Canton of Bern | Regionalverkehr Bern-Solothurn (RBS) | All lines except tram line 6 between Bern and Worb, which is electrified at 600 V DC[28] |
1,350 | Italy Switzerland | Domodossola, Piedmont – Locarno, canton of Ticino | Ferrovia Domodossola–Locarno (FART/SSIF) | International railway between Italy (Domodossola) and Switzerland (Locarno) |
Switzerland | Lugano – Ponte Tresa, canton of Ticino | Ferrovia Lugano–Ponte Tresa (FLP) | ||
2,400 | Germany | Lausitzer | work line of the Lausitzer Brown Coal AG company | |
Poland | Konin | PAK KWB KONIN[29] | ||
Poland | Turek | PAK KWB ADAMÓW[29] | ||
France | Grenoble | Chemin de fer de La Mure | −1,200 V, +1,200 V two wire system from 1903 to 1950. 2,400 V since 1950.[30] | |
USA | Montana | Butte, Anaconda and Pacific Railway | electrified 1913–1967, dismantled in favor of diesel power | |
3,000 | USA | Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad | 645 miles (1,038 km) on two sections, dismantled 1974 | |
3,500 | United Kingdom | Manchester | Bury – Holcombe Brook | operated 1913–1918 |
6,000 | Russia | experiments in the late 1970s (3,000 V DC lines) |
AC voltage
Voltage | Frequency | Country | Location | Name of system | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
5,500 | 16 2⁄3 Hz | Germany | Murnau | Ammergau Railway | 1905–1955, after 1955 15 kV, 16.7 Hz |
6,250 | 50 Hz | United Kingdom | London, Essex, Herts | Great Eastern suburban lines | Great Eastern suburban lines from Liverpool Street London, 1950s–c1980 (converted to 25 kV) |
United Kingdom | Glasgow | Glasgow suburban lines | Sections of the North Clyde Line and Cathcart Circle Line from 1960-1970s | ||
6,300 | 25 Hz | Germany | Hamburg | Hamburg S-Bahn | Operated with AC 1907–1955. Used both AC and DC (1,200 V 3rd rail) 1940–1955. |
6,500 | 25 Hz | Austria | Sankt Pölten | Mariazellerbahn | |
6,600 | Norway | Orkdal | Thamshavnbanen | ||
6,600 | 50 Hz | Germany | Cologne Lowland | Hambachbahn and Nord-Süd-Bahn | transports lignite from open-pit mines to powerplants. Owned by RWE. |
6,700 | 25 Hz | United Kingdom | Morecambe branch line | Lancaster to Heysham | 1908–1951 Converted to 25 kV 50 Hz as a test bed for the future main line electrification system |
South London line | London Victoria station to London Bridge station | 1909–1928 Converted to 660 V (later 750 V) DC third-rail supply | |||
8 kV | 25 Hz | Germany | Karlsruhe | Alb Valley Railway | 1911–1966, today using 750 V DC |
10 kV | Netherlands | The Hague - Rotterdam | Hofpleinlijn | from 1908, in 1926 converted to 1,500 DC, In 2006 replaced by 750 V DC light rail | |
10 kV | 50 Hz | Russia | industrial railways at quarries | Russian Railways | operated from 1950s at coal and ore quarries |
Ukraine | Ukrainian Railways | ||||
Kazakhstan | some private industrial railways in Kazakhstan | ||||
11 kV | 16 2⁄3 Hz | Switzerland | Graubünden | Rhätische Bahn (RhB) | 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 | ||||
50 Hz | France | Saint-Gervais-les-Bains | Mont Blanc Tramway | ||
11 kV | 25 Hz | United States | Pennsylvania Railroad Etc., |
All lines now 12 kV 25 Hz or 12.5 kV 60 Hz See Railroad electrification in the United States | |
United States | Washington | Cascade Tunnel | Converted from three-phase 6600 V 25 Hz in 1927, dismantled 1956 | ||
United States | Colorado | Denver and Intermountain Railroad | dismantled c. 1953[31] | ||
12 kV | 16 2⁄3 Hz | France | lines in Pyrenees | Chemin de fer du Midi | most converted to 1,500 V 1922–23; Villefranche-Perpignan diesel 1971, then 1,500 V 1984 |
12 kV | 25 Hz | United States | Washington, DC - New York City | Northeast Corridor (NEC), Amtrak | 11 kV until 1978 |
Harrisburg, PA to Philadelphia, PA | Keystone Corridor, Amtrak | 11 kV until 1978 | |||
Philadelphia | SEPTA | Regional Rail system only; 11 kV until 1978 | |||
12 kV | 25 Hz | United States | Rahway to Aberdeen-Matawan, New Jersey | North Jersey Coast Line, New Jersey Transit | 1978-2002 (11 kV until 1978). Converted to 25 kV 60 Hz |
12.5 kV | 60 Hz | United States | Pelham, NY-New Haven, CT | New Haven Line, Metro-North Railroad, Amtrak | 11 kV until 1985 |
16 kV | 50 Hz | Hungary | Budapest–Hegyeshalom railway | Budapest to Hegyeshalom | Kandó system 1931–1972, converted to 25 kV 50 Hz |
20 kV | 50 Hz | Germany | Freiburg | Höllentalbahn | Operated 1933–1960. Converted to 15 kV 16 2⁄3 Hz. |
France | Aix-les-Bains – La Roche-sur-Foron | Société Nationale des Chemins de fer (SNCF) | Operated 1950–1953. Converted to 25 kV 50 Hz. | ||
20 kV | 50 Hz | Japan | most electrified JR/the third sector lines in Hokkaidō and Tōhoku | JR East, JR Hokkaidō, and others | |
60 Hz | most electrified JR/the third sector lines in Kyūshū and Hokuriku region | JR Kyūshū and others | |||
50 kV | 50 Hz | South Africa | Northern Cape, Western Cape | Sishen–Saldanha railway line | opened in 1976 and hauls iron ore |
60 Hz | Canada | British Columbia | Tumbler Ridge Subdivision of BC Rail (Now Canadian National Railway) | Opened in 1983 to serve a coal mine in the northern Rocky Mountains. No longer in use. | |
60 Hz | United States | Arizona | Black Mesa and Lake Powell Railroad | First line to use 50 kV electrification when it opened in 1973. This was an isolated coal-hauling short line; no longer in use. | |
60 Hz | United States | Utah | Deseret Power Railroad | Formerly Deseret Western Railway. This is an isolated coal-hauling short line. |
Three-phase AC voltage
Two wires
Voltage | Current | Country | Location | Name of system | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
725 | 50 Hz, 3Ø | Switzerland | Zermatt – Gornergrat, canton of Valais | Gornergratbahn | |
750 | 40 Hz, 3Ø | Burgdorf – Thun | Burgdorf-Thun Bahn | Operated 1899–1933 converted to 15 kV 16 2⁄3 Hz in 1933 | |
800 | 60 Hz, 3Ø | Brazil | Rio de Janeiro | Corcovado Rack Railway | |
1125 | 50 Hz, 3Ø | Switzerland | Interlaken | Jungfraubahn | |
3600 | 15 Hz, 3Ø | Italy | Northern Italy | Valtellina Electrification | 1902–1917 |
50 Hz, 3Ø | France | Saint-Jean-de-Luz to Larrun | Chemin de Fer de la Rhune | ||
3600 | 16 Hz, 3Ø | Switzerland, Italy | Simplon Tunnel | 1906–1930 | |
3600 | 16 2⁄3 Hz, 3Ø | Italy | operated 1912–1976 in Upper Italy (more info needed) | ||
Porrettana railway | FS | 1927–1935 | |||
3600 | 16 2⁄3 Hz, 3Ø | Italy | Trento/Trient to Brenner | Brenner Railway | 1929 - 1965 |
5200 | 25 Hz, 3Ø | Spain | Almeria – Gergal | 1911–1966? | |
6600 | 25 Hz, 3Ø | United States | Cascade Tunnel | Great Northern Railway (U.S.) | 1909 - 1929 |
10 kV | 45 Hz, 3Ø | Italy | Roma - Sulmona | FS | 1929–1944[32] |
Three wires
Voltage | Current | Country | Location | Name of system | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3000 V | 50 Hz | Germany | Kierberg | Zahnradbahn Tagebau Gruhlwerk | rack railway (0.7 km) operated 1927–1949 |
10000 V | 50 Hz | Berlin-Lichterfelde (de) | 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 | Russia | Ship elevator of Krasnoyarsk Reservoir | length: 1.5 km, 9000 mm gauge |
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 | Country | Location | Name of system | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
50 | See notes | United Kingdom | Brighton | Volk's Electric Railway | Volk's Railway prior to 1884 (current fed through running rails) |
110 | third rail | Claims to be the world's oldest operational electric railway | |||
160 | Volk's Railway between 1884 and 1980s | ||||
100 | fourth rail | Beaulieu | Monorail at National Motor Museum | current fed by 2 contact wires | |
180 | See notes | Germany | Berlin-Lichterfelde | Siemens streetcar | Current fed through the running rails Operated 1881–1891 |
200 | third rail | United Kingdom | Southend | Southend Pier Railway | Until 1902[33] |
250 | Hythe, Hampshire | Hythe Pier Railway | |||
USA | Chicago, Illinois | Chicago Tunnel Company | Morgan Rack 1904, revenue service 1906–1908 | ||
300 | Georgia | New Athos Cave Railway | |||
400 | Germany | Berchtesgaden | Berchtesgaden Salt Mine Railway | ||
440 | United Kingdom | London | Post Office Railway | Disused by post office since 2003[34] Now small section near Mount Pleasant operated as tourist attraction with battery powered stock[35] 150 V was used in station areas to limit train speed | |
550 | Argentina | Buenos Aires | Buenos Aires Metro (Subterráneos de Buenos Aires) | Only Line B | |
630 | United Kingdom | Isle of Wight | Island Line | ||
630 | 4th rail | London | London Underground (LUL) | 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)[36] | |
650 | See notes | London | Euston to Watford DC Line | 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 | some areas up to 1939, original standard, mostly upgraded to 750 V (except for sections that operate with LUL stock). | ||
700 | USA | Baltimore, Maryland | Baltimore Metro SubwayLink | ||
800 | Germany | Berlin | Berlin S-Bahn | discontinued, today 750 V | |
825 | North Korea | Pyongyang | Pyongyang Metro | uses old 750 V Berlin U-Bahn rolling stock | |
1000 | USA | San Francisco | Bay Area Rapid Transit | [37] | |
1500 | France | Chambéry - Modane | Culoz–Modane railway | used between 1925 and 1976, today overhead wire |
Side contact systems
Voltage | Type | Country | Location | Name of system | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
850 | third rail | France | Martigny | Ligne de Saint Gervais - Vallorcine | |
1200 | third rail | United Kingdom | Manchester | Manchester-Bury | Dismantled 1991, converted to Manchester Metrolink tramway (750 V DC overhead) |
1200 | third rail | Germany | Hamburg | Hamburg S-Bahn | 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 | Country | Location | Name of system | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
650 | third rail | Canada | Vancouver | SkyTrain | Expo Line (1985) and Millennium Line (2006) |
700 | third rail | United States | New York | Metro-North Railroad | Hudson and Harlem Lines, southern part of New Haven Line. Original New York Central Railroad electrification scheme to Grand Central Terminal. |
Philadelphia | Market-Frankford Line | Originally 600 V, raised to 700 V | |||
825 | third rail | Bulgaria | Sofia | Sofia Metro | Lines 1 and 2 |
Russia | Moscow | Moscow Metro | Nominal voltage: 825 V; allowed range: 550 V - 975 V[38] | ||
Saint Petersburg | Saint Petersburg Metro | ||||
Novosibirsk | Novosibirsk Metro | ||||
Nizhny Novgorod | Nizhny Novgorod Metro | ||||
Samara | Samara Metro | ||||
Yekaterinburg | Yekaterinburg Metro | ||||
Kazan | Kazan Metro | ||||
Ukraine | Kyiv | Kyiv Metro | FSU underground systems share the same standard[39] | ||
Kharkiv | Kharkiv Metro | ||||
Dnipro | Dnipro Metro | ||||
830 | third rail | Argentina | Buenos Aires | Mitre Line | Retiro - José León Suárez Retiro - Bartolomé Mitre Retiro - Tigre |
Once - Moreno | Sarmiento Line | ||||
850 | third rail | France | Villefranche | Ligne de Cerdagne | Often referred to as the "Yellow Train" |
Austria | Vienna | Wiener Lokalbahn | |||
900 | third rail | Belgium | Brussels | Brussels Metro | |
1500 | third rail | China | Beijing | Beijing Subway | Line 7 only |
Guangzhou | Guangzhou Metro | Lines 4, 5, 6, 14 and 21 only. Overhead wires in depots; all trains are equipped with pantographs | |||
Kunming | Kunming Metro | Line 4 only | |||
Qingdao | Qingdao Metro | ||||
Shanghai | Shanghai Metro | Lines 16 and 17 only. Overhead wires in depot of Line 16, all trains on Line 16 have pantographs for depot use. | |||
Shenzhen | Shenzhen Metro | Lines 3 and 6 only. Overhead wires in depot of Line 6, all trains on Line 6 have pantographs for depot use. | |||
Wuhan | Wuhan Metro | Lines 7, 8, 11 and Yangluo Line only | |||
Wuxi | Wuxi Metro | ||||
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)(Under construction)
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
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) | |
Top contact | London Underground | London | UK | Transport for London[40] | ||
630 |
See also
Footnotes
- BS EN 50163 (2007).
- IEC 60850 (2007).
- 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. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- Boddy et al. (1990), p. 139.
- Swain (1990), p. 19.
- Boddy et al. (1990), p. 135.
- Dixon (1994), p. 119.
- Boddy et al. (1990), p.101 & p.142
- Boddy et al. (1990), p. 92–93.
- Michał Szymajda (17 January 2020). "Szybka linia kolejowa „Y" przez CPK ma być gotowa do 2030 roku" [High-speed 'Y' railway line through CPK should be completed by 2030]. Rynek Lotniczy (in Polish). Retrieved 5 February 2020.
- Railway Gazette International April 2008, p 240
- Electrified D. L. & W. Time magazine archives Retrieved 2007-08-12
- "Western Railway sets stage for AC system - Times of India". timesofindia.com. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- "From May 5, faster Central Railway with AC power - Times of India". timesofindia.com. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- "Soon, faster trains on Kalyan-LTT route - Times of India". timesofindia.com. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- "Central Railway plans DC/AC switch in May - Times of India". timesofindia.com. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- "Israel Railways awards USD 500m electrification contract to Spanish SEMI". Think Railways. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- "Africa's first high speed line inaugurated". Railway Gazette. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- https://web.archive.org/web/20160324151013/http://www.railwaysafrica.com/news/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, 60 Hz
- "TXU - Monticello Line". Trainweb.org. 1999-11-02. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
- "Railway Technical Info - Hungary". www.chiark.greenend.org.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- Schweers+Wall (2012), p. 66.
- http://www.locomotives.com.pl/Electric%20Locomotives/EL2.htm
- "ERS - Presentation, La Mure". www.railfaneurope.net. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- Cacozza, Marco (August 2016). "Three-Phase Electrification: An Italian Story". Today's Railways Europe #248. Cite journal requires
|journal=
(help) - "Southend Pier Railway".
- Karslake, Colin. "Unofficial MailRail Website - Home". www.mailrail.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- https://www.postalmuseum.org/discover/attractions/mail-rail-ride/
- 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.
- "Rules of technical operation of undergrounds of the Russian Federation (Правила технической эксплуатации метрополитенов Российской Федерации)" (PDF) (in Russian). International Metro Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-10. Retrieved 2017-11-30.
- "Structures, devices and rolling stock of underground (Сооружения, устройства и подвижной состав метрополитена)" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2017-09-19. Retrieved 2017-11-30.
- "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, archived from the original on 2007-02-13
- 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. ASIN 3894941308.
- 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