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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.
As of 2023[update] 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.
- 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
|
Voltages are defined by two standards: BS EN 50163[1] and IEC 60850.[2]
Overhead systems
600 V DC
| Country | Location | Name of system | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Worldwide |
Many tram systems | This voltage is mostly used by older tram systems worldwide but by a few modern ones as well. See List of tram systems by gauge and electrification. | |
| Germany | Trossingen | Trossingen Railway | |
| 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 |
| United Kingdom | Crich, England | National Tramway Museum | |
| United States | Boston | MBTA subway | Green and Mattapan Lines, the at-grade section of Blue Line northeast of Airport station |
| Cleveland | RTA Rapid Transit | Red Line | |
| San Diego | San Diego Trolley | ||
| Iowa | Iowa Traction Railway | ||
750 V DC
1,200 V DC
 |
1,500 V DC
3 kV DC
| Country | Location | Name of system | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | Belgium National Railways (SNCB) | National standard. 25 kV AC used on high speed lines and some lines in the south (see below). | |
| Brazil | Rio de Janeiro | SuperVia Trens Urbanos | |
| São Paulo | São Paulo Metropolitan Trains | ||
| Chile | Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado | ||
| Czech Republic | Správa železnic | 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 (see below). The 3 kV system is to be phased out in favour of 25 kV AC.[10] | |
| Estonia | Tallinn | Elron | Commuter rail only |
| Georgia | Georgian Railways | In fact 3,300 V | |
| Italy | Rete Ferroviaria Italiana | 25 kV AC used on new high speed lines (see below) | |
| North Korea | Korean State Railway | National standard | |
| Latvia | Latvian Railways | Commuter rail only. | |
| Morocco | ONCF | National standard | |
| Netherlands | ProRail | Planned | |
| Poland | Polish State Railways | National standard. Planned high speed lines in Poland will use 25 kV AC[11] | |
| Warsaw and suburbs | Warszawska Kolej Dojazdowa | 600 V DC until 27 May 2016 | |
| Russia | Russian Railways | New electrification use only 25 kV AC (see below), except Moscow Central Circle and other interconnection lines in Moscow, and 2 interconnection lines (Veymarn line and Kamennogorsk line) in St. Petersburg. 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,[10] 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 (see below). | |
| Slovenia | Slovenian Railways | National standard | |
| South Africa | Transnet Freight Rail; Metrorail | National standard; also 25 kV AC (see below) and 50 kV AC used | |
| Spain | Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias | 25 kV AC used on high speed lines (AVE) (see below) | |
| 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[12] (see below) | |
15 kV AC, 16+2⁄3 Hz / 16.7 Hz
| Country | Location | Name of system | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | ÖBB | National standard. Planned new high speed lines will near the border use 25 kV AC: Innsbruck-Italy and broad gauge to Ukraine. Austrian National Railways also operate in the small country of Liechtenstein, which also uses 15 kV AC. | |
| Czech Republic | Znojmo - Retz | Správa železnic | Isolated section near border with Austria |
| Germany | Deutsche Bahn - German National Railways (DB) | National standard | |
| Norway | Norwegian National Rail Administration | ||
| Sweden | Swedish Transport Administration | ||
| 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 | ||
| Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS) | |||
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 | Brisbane, North Coast line, Blackwater and Goonyella coal railways | Queensland Rail | |
| Perth | Transperth | ||
| Adelaide | Adelaide Metro | Seaford/Flinders and Gawler lines electrified | |
| Sydney | Sydney Metro | Completely new lines (Western Sydney Airport and Sydney Metro West) converted lines use 1500V DC[6] | |
| Belarus | National standard | ||
| Belgium | Belgium National Railways (NMBS/SNCB) | High-speed lines and some other lines. The rest of the network is 3 kV DC (see above) | |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | |||
| Botswana | Proposed line to Namibia | ||
| Bulgaria | Bulgarian State Railways | ||
| China | China Railway | National standard | |
| Beijing | Beijing Subway | Daxing Airport Line only | |
| Chengdu | Chengdu Metro | Lines 17, 18 and 19 only | |
| Wenzhou | Wenzhou Rail Transit | ||
| Croatia | Croatian Railways | Lines Zagreb-Rijeka and Rijeka-Šapjane formerly used 3kv DC traction | |
| Czech Republic | Správa železnic | Southern lines only (linking Karlovy Vary – Cheb – Plzeň – České Budějovice – Tábor – Jihlava – Brno – Břeclav – Slovakia), northern lines use 3 kV DC (see above) | |
| Denmark | Banedanmark | National standard, excluding Copenhagen S-train | |
| Djibouti | Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway | Ethiopian Railway Corporation | |
| Ethiopia | Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway | Ethiopian Railway Corporation | |
| Finland | National standard | ||
| France | North and new lines | SNCF | A number of lines also electrified with 1.5 kV (see above) |
| Germany | Harz | Rübelandbahn | |
| Greece | Hellenic Railways Organisation | National standard | |
| Hong Kong | Kowloon, New Territories | MTR | East Rail and Tuen Ma lines |
| Hungary | Hungarian State Railways and Raaberbahn | ||
| India | Indian Railways | 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[13]) and 2016 (for Central line[14][15][16]) respectively | |
| Mumbai | Mumbai Metro (Line 1) | ||
| Chennai (Madras) | Chennai Metro | ||
| Delhi | Delhi Metro | ||
| Hyderabad | Hyderabad Metro | ||
| Pune | Pune Metro | ||
| Nagpur | Nagpur Metro | ||
| Jaipur | Jaipur Metro | ||
| Lucknow | Lucknow Metro | ||
| Iran | Planned | ||
| Israel | Israel Railways | Construction contract awarded in December 2015.[17] Initial test runs began December 2017. | |
| Italy | Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (Italian Railways Network) | New high-speed lines only, other lines use 3 kV DC (see above) | |
| 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 |
25 kV AC 60 Hz in some areas (see below). |
| Kazakhstan | |||
| Laos | Boten–Vientiane railway | ||
| Latvia | Latvian Railways | 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 and Kaunas – Kybartai corridors electrification will follow projects. |
| Luxembourg | Chemins de fer luxembourgeois (CFL) | National standard | |
| 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[18] |
| Namibia | Proposed line to Botswana | ||
| Netherlands | HSL-Zuid high speed line and Betuweroute freight line | Nederlandse Spoorwegen | 1.5 kV DC used on the rest of the network (see above) |
| New Zealand | Auckland | Auckland suburban | 77 km between Swanson and Papakura; first service 28 April 2014 |
| Central North Island | North Island Main Trunk | 411 km between Palmerston North and Hamilton | |
| North Macedonia | Makedonski Železnici | ||
| Poland | Hrubieszów | Broad Gauge Metallurgy Line (LHS) | A section from the border to Hrubieszów will be electrified in conjunction with the electrification of the connecting border – Izov – Kovel line in Ukraine.[19] The reminder sections will follow. |
| Portugal | Portuguese Railways (CP) | Except the Linha de Cascais (1500 V DC) | |
| Romania | Caile Ferate Romane | ||
| Russia | Russian Railways | National standard used for new electrification; some areas still use 3 kV DC (see above) | |
| Serbia | Serbian Railways | ||
| Slovakia | Slovak Republic Railways (ŽSR) | South-western lines only (around Bratislava, Kuty, Trencin, Trnava, Nove Zamky, Zvolen) and the rest of the network (except narrow gauge lines), currently 3 kV DC, to follow (see above) | |
| South Africa | Transnet Freight Rail, Gautrain | Also 3 kV DC (see above) and 50 kV 50 Hz used. | |
| Spain | ADIF Alta Velocidad | High-speed lines only, other lines use 3 kV DC (see above) | |
| Sweden | Malmö | Öresund Line | On the Öresund Bridge and short part of land. |
| Haparanda | Haparanda Line broad gauge track | Only at the station near the border to Finland (with 1524mm gauge) | |
| Turkey | Turkish State Railways (TCDD) | National standard | |
| Thailand | Bangkok | Suvarnabhumi Airport Link | |
| Tunisia | [20] | ||
| Turkey | Turkish State Railways (TCDD) | National standard | |
| United Kingdom | Network Rail | Except Southern region and Merseyrail and Northern Ireland | |
| Ukraine | Ukrainian Railways | National standard, in most of the west; also 3 kV DC in the east (see above) | |
| Uzbekistan | |||
| Zimbabwe | Gweru – Harare | National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) | De-energised in 2008. May be renewed in the future.[21] |
25 kV AC, 60 Hz
| Country | Location | Name of system | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen |
25 kV AC 50 Hz in eastern Japan (see above) |
| South Korea | Korail | All Korail freight/passenger lines except Seoul subway Line 3 which is 1.5 kV DC (see above) | |
| Seoul | Shinbundang line | ||
| Incheon, Seoul | A'REX | ||
| Mexico | Greater Mexico City | Ferrocarril Suburbano de la Zona Metropolitana del Valle de México | [22] |
| Mexico Valley, Toluca Valley | El Insurgente | First section operating on 2023. Rest expected mid of 2024 | |
| Yucatán Peninsula | Tren Maya | Under construction. About 40% of the route to be electrified [23] | |
| Saudi Arabia | Hejaz region | Haramain High-Speed Railway | |
| Republic of China (Taiwan) | Taiwan Railways Administration | National standard | |
| Western Taiwan | Taiwan High Speed Rail | ||
| United States | New Jersey | Morris & Essex Lines, New Jersey Transit | Converted from 3,000 V DC to 25 kV 60 Hz in 1984. |
| 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 Haven 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 | |
| Rancho Cucamonga to Las Vegas | Brightline West | Under construction, expected to be operational by 2027-28. | |
| California | California High-Speed Rail | Under construction between Merced and Bakersfield, set to begin operation in 2029-30. | |
| San Francisco Peninsula | Caltrain | Completed in 2024; see Caltrain Modernization Program | |
| New Mexico | Navajo Mine Railroad | ||
| Texas | Texas Utilities, Monticello & Martin Lake | see E25B and Internet reference[24] | |
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
| 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 |
1,200 V DC conductor
All systems are third rail and side contact unless stated otherwise.
| Country | Location | Name of system | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Hamburg | Hamburg S-Bahn | 15 kV 16.7 Hz AC with overhead line in part of network. |
| United Kingdom | Manchester | Bury Line | Dismantled 1991, converted to Manchester Metrolink tramway (750 V DC overhead) |
| United States | California | Central California Traction Company | 1908–1946, bottom contact[25] |
1,500 V DC conductor
All systems are third rail unless stated otherwise.
| Type | Country | Location | Name of system | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom contact | France | Paris | Paris Métro Line 18 | Currently under construction |
| Toulouse | Line C (Toulouse Metro) | Currently under construction | ||
| Side contact | Chambéry – Modane | Culoz–Modane railway | used between 1925 and 1976, today overhead wire | |
| Bottom contact | 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 |
Overhead systems
DC voltage
AC voltage
| Voltage | Frequency | Country | Location | Name of system | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,300 | 15 Hz | United States | Tulare County, California | Visalia Electric Railroad | 1904–1992 |
| 25 Hz | United States | Napa and Solano Counties, California | San Francisco, Napa and Calistoga Railway | 1905–1937 | |
| 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. |
| 6,600 | United States | Northern Indiana | Chicago, Lake Shore and South Bend Railway | 1908–1925 Converted to 1,500 V DC | |
| 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 to London Bridge | 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[35] | ||
| 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, Pennsylvania to Philadelphia | 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 | 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. | |
| 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, 3φ | Switzerland | Zermatt – Gornergrat, canton of Valais | Gornergratbahn | |
| 750 | 40 Hz, 3φ | Burgdorf – Thun | Burgdorf-Thun Bahn | Operated 1899–1933 converted to 15 kV 16+2⁄3 Hz in 1933 | |
| 900 | 60 Hz, 3φ | Brazil | Rio de Janeiro | Corcovado Rack Railway | |
| 1125 | 50 Hz, 3φ | Switzerland | Interlaken | Jungfraubahn | |
| 3600 | 15 Hz, 3φ | Italy | Northern Italy | Valtellina Electrification | 1902–1917 |
| 50 Hz, 3φ | France | Saint-Jean-de-Luz to Larrun | Chemin de Fer de la Rhune | ||
| 3600 | 16 Hz, 3φ | Italy Switzerland |
Simplon Tunnel | 1906–1930 | |
| 3600 | 16+2⁄3 Hz, 3φ | Italy | operated 1912–1976 in Upper Italy (more info needed) | ||
| Porrettana railway | FS | 1927–1935 | |||
| 3600 | 16+2⁄3 Hz, 3φ | Italy | Trento/Trient to Brenner | Brenner Railway | 1929–1965 |
| 5200 | 25 Hz, 3φ | Spain | Gérgal – Santa Fe | C.de H. Sur de España | 1911–1966? |
| 6600 | 25 Hz, 3φ | United States | Cascade Tunnel | Great Northern Railway (U.S.) | 1909–1929 |
| 10 kV | 45 Hz, 3φ | Italy | Roma – Sulmona | FS | 1929–1944[36] |
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 | 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 (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 | Beaulieu Monorail (National Motor Museum – Beaulieu Palace House) | 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[37] |
| 250 | Hythe, Hampshire | Hythe Pier Railway | |||
| United States | 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[38] Now small section near Mount Pleasant operated as tourist attraction with battery powered stock[39] 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 | |
| 625 | United States | New York City | New York City Subway | ||
| 630 | Philadelphia | SEPTA – Norristown High Speed Line | |||
| fourth rail | United Kingdom | London | London Underground | Supplied at +420 V and −210 V (630 V total). | |
| 650 | See notes | Euston to Watford DC Line | Third rail with fourth rail bonded to running rail To enable London Underground trains to operate between Queen's Park and Harrow & Wealdstone. Similar bonding arrangements are used on the North London Line between Richmond and Gunnersbury and on the District Line between Putney Bridge and Wimbledon. | ||
| 660 | third rail | Southern Railway & London & South Western Railway | some areas up to 1939, original standard, mostly upgraded to 750 V (except for sections that operate with LUL stock). | ||
| 700 | United States | 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 | United States | San Francisco | Bay Area Rapid Transit | [40] |
Side contact systems
All third rail unless otherwise stated.
| Voltage | Country | Location | Name of system | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 650 | Canada | Vancouver | SkyTrain | Expo Line (1985) and Millennium Line (2006). Linear induction. |
| 850 | France | Martigny | Saint-Gervais–Vallorcine railway | |
| 1200 | Germany | Hamburg | Hamburg S-Bahn | Since 1940. Used both third rail DC (1200 V) and overhead line AC (6.3 kV 25 Hz) until 1955. Also uses German standard 15 kV AC 16 2/3 Hz overhead electrification on the section between Neugraben and Stade on line S3, opened in December 2007. |
Bottom contact systems
All third rail unless otherwise stated.
Conductor rail systems (AC voltage)
All systems are 3-phase unless otherwise noted.
| Voltage | Current | Contact | Country | Location | Name of system | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | 50 Hz | top/bottom[43] | Australia | Gold Coast, Queensland | Sea World Monorail | Operated 1986–2021 |
| Oasis Shopping Centre | Operated 1989–2017 | |||||
| Sydney, New South Wales | Sydney Monorail | Operated 1988–2013[44] | ||||
| 600 | 50 Hz | side | China | Guangzhou | Guangzhou Metro – APM Line | |
| Singapore | LRT – Bukit Panjang line | [45] | ||||
| Japan | Saitama | New Shuttle | ||||
| Tokyo | Nippori-Toneri Liner | |||||
| Yurikamome | ||||||
| 60 Hz | Kobe, Hyōgo | Kobe New Transit | ||||
| Osaka | Osaka Metro – Nankō Port Town Line | |||||
| Kansai International Airport – Wing Shuttle | ||||||
| Taiwan | Taoyuan | Taoyuan International Airport – Skytrain | ||||
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)
DC, two-wire
- Greenwich, England. Previously used by trams when in the vicinity of Greenwich Observatory;[citation needed] separate from trolleybus supply.
- Cincinnati,[citation needed] Ohio, US. Tram (streetcar) system used this arrangement throughout, probably due to legal constraints on ground return currents.[citation needed]
- Havana and Guanabacoa,[citation needed] Cuba. Tram (streetcar) systems in both cities used this arrangement.
- Lisbon, Portugal. Elevador da Bica, Elevador da Glória and Elevador da Lavra.[citation needed]
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) | |
| 630 | Third and fourth rail | Top contact | London Underground | London | United Kingdom | Transport for London[46] |
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