Railwey electrification seestem

A railwey electrification seestem supplies electric pouer tae railwey trains an trams wioot an on-buird prime mover or local fuel supply. Electric railweys uise electric locomotives tae haul passengers or freight in separate cars or electric multiple units, passenger cars wi thair ain motors. Electricity is teepically generated in lairge an relatively efficient Pouer stations, transmitted tae the railwey network an distributed tae the trains. Some electric railweys hae thair ain dedicated generating stations an transmission lines but maist purchase pouer frae an electric utility. The railwey uisually provides its ain distribution lines, switches an transformers.

Electric locomotive at Glesga Central station

Pouer is supplied tae muivin trains wi a (nearly) conteenous conductor running alang the track that uisually takes ane o twa forms: owerheid line, suspended frae poles or touers alang the track or frae structur or tunnel ceilings; third rail mounted at track level an contacted bi a sliding "collector shoe". Baith owerheid wire an third-rail seestems uisually uise the running rails as the return conductor but some seestems uise a separate fowert rail for this purpose.

Unitit Kinrick

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Trains

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The main seestems in uise are:

Trams

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The main seestems in uise are:

  • 1,500V DC owerheid line - Tyne an Wear Metro
  • 750V DC owerheid line - maist modren seestems, e.g. Edinburgh Trams
  • 600V DC owerheid line - aulder seestems, e.g. Blackpool Tramway