Electrical Systems

Electrical Engineering in Railways

Rolling Stock
Communications & Control
Signalling
LV Installations in Stations and Buildings
Electrical Systems

Electrical Systems

Electrical Systems

High Voltage Aerial Lines and Underground Cables

Substations
1500V dc Traction System
Overhead Wiring
Traction Return
Power Supply for signalling operation, communication
equipment, station and buildings, etc
LV installations in Railway Tunnels and Yards

Electrical Systems
Statutory Environment
Rail Safety Act 2002
Electricity Supply Act 1995
Electricity Supply (Safety & Network
Management) Regulation 2002
RailCorp is one of the Electricity Distributors
in NSW

High Voltage A.C.

Distribution System
Standard Voltages
11kV
33kV
66kV
132kV
Modes of transfer
Overhead Transmission Lines
Underground Cable

HV Aerial Lines
Conductors
Copper
Aluminium (AAC or Aluminium Alloy)
Conductor Supports
Wood Poles
Steel Poles

HV Cables
Conductors
Copper
Construction
Paper insulated lead sheathed
XLPE
Configuration
Underground
Galvanised Steel Troughing / Ground Line
Troughing

1500V D.C. System

Electric Trains in NSW Run on 1500V D.C.
Power is supplied from traction substations to
trains by means of the overhead wiring
(OHW) system
Trains collect current through pantographs
sliding under the contact wire
Current returns to the substations via traction
rails

Traction
Substations
Switchgear
AC Circuit Breaker
DC Circuit Breaker
Transformers & Rectifiers
Convert the high voltage ac supply to 1500V
dc
Control and Monitoring
SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data
Acquisition)

Traction
Substations
Substation Spacing
Typically 4km to 15km
Depends on a number of factors including
Train loads
Track grades
Losses
OHW types
Train headways
Electrolysis

Overhead Wiring
(OHW)
Overhead Wiring Systems in RailCorp
Simple Catenary
One or two contact wires supported by a
catenary wire
Compound Catenary
A main catenary supports an auxiliary
catenary, which in turn supports the contact
wire
Contact Only

Overhead Wiring
Tensioning Modes
Fixed Anchored
Wires rigidly anchored at both ends of the
wire run
Tension in the wire varies with temperature
Wire sags down at high temperatures
Regulated Tension
Tension is the wire is held approximately
constant

Overhead Wiring
(OHW)

Overhead Wiring
(OHW)

Overhead Wiring

Power Supplies
Supplied from High Voltage Distribution System
Generally from the 11kV Network
Transform voltage to 415V or 240V
Signalling Supplies
Generally two independent source of supplies are
provided
Normal supply from RailCorp HV Distribution System
Standby supply from local electricity distributor
Power supplies to stations, buildings, workshops and
other LV installations.

Electrical Systems
Challenges
Reliability
On Time Running
Single Contingency (Except for OHW)
Double or Triple Contingency at Critical Locations
Design to minimise restoration time after failures
Safety
Statutory Clearances
Permit System
Safety in Design