This is a list of the power supply systems that are, or have been, used for tramway and

railway electrification system A railway electrification system supplies electric power to railway trains and trams without an on-board prime mover or local fuel supply. Electric railways use either electric locomotives (hauling passengers or freight in separate cars), e ...

s. 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 Three-phase electric power (abbreviated 3φ) is a common type of alternating current used in electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. It is a type of polyphase system employing three wires (or four including an optional neutral ...

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 * Here Technologies, a mapping company * Here WeGo (formerly Here Maps), a mobile app and map website by Here Television * Here TV (formerly "here!"), a ...

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 ...

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 ev ...

** # 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 ...

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 loa ...

(1Ø) except where marked

(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,

Conductor rail systems

600 V DC conductor

All systems are

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, 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 w ...

Ohio Ohio () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, fifty U.S. states, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 34th-l ...

, 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 Lisbon (; pt, Lisboa ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 544,851 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km2. Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administrative limits w ...

, Portugal.

Elevador da Bica The Bica Funicular ( pt, Ascensor da Bica), sometimes known as the ''Elevador da Bica'' (''Bica Lift''), is a funicular railway line in the civil parish of Misericórdia, in the municipality of Lisbon, Portugal. It connects the ''Rua de São Pa ...

, 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 Ungere ...

(1886–1895) * transportable railways as a ride for children

DC, four-rail

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 Arts and media Film * ''Rails'' (film), a 1929 Italian film by Mario Camerini * ''Rail'' ( ...

Electric rail transport

Key to the tables below

Systems using standard voltages

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

750 V DC conductor

=Bottom contact

= Side contact

= Top contact

= Mixed

1200 V DC conductor

1500 V DC conductor

Systems using non-standard voltages

Overhead systems

DC voltage

AC voltage

Three-phase AC voltage

= Two wires

= Three wires

Conductor rail systems (DC voltage)

Top contact systems

Side contact systems

Bottom contact systems

Conductor rail systems (AC voltage)

Special or unusual types

DC, plough collection from conductors in conduit below track

DC, one ground-level conductor

DC, two-wire

DC, power from running rails

DC, four-rail

See also

Footnotes

References

External links