Traction choices: overhead ac vs third rail

dc
Written by Anil Yadav

With third rail dc and overhead ac traction offering numerous advantages and
disadvantages, prospective rapid transit operators should carefully consider the
type of traction system they adopt, argues Anil Yadav, general manager, electrical,
at Rites, India, who is currently providing consultancy services to Bangalore
Metro.

A WIDE variety of electric traction systems are used on rapid transit systems around the world
which have been built according to the type of railway, its location and the technology available
at the time of installation.
Most metros are operated with dc power either at 750V with third rail or 1.5kV with third
rail/overhead contact line. Operating metros on 25kV ac overhead is a relatively new
phenomenon and there is a lot of debate about the value of this adaption due to the importance
of traction power to a system's performance.

A conventional electrification system provides electrical power to the trains by means of the
traction power supply, distribution, and traction power return systems. Third rail always uses dc
power with a variety of voltages in use around the world including 600V on the Tokyo metro,
750V, which is the most common use, 825V in Moscow, 1.2kV in Berlin and 1.5kV in Guangzhou.

Overhead traction has also evolved from 1.5kV dc, 3kV dc, and 15kV ac in early applications to
25kV ac (or 2x25kV ac) which is now widely used and more often than not the traction system of
choice for new mainline and high-speed railways. High-voltage ac electrification has also been
applied on S-Bahn systems in Germany (15kV) and on part of the RER network in Paris where
mainline commuter lines have been connected with new underground sections in the city centre.

The fundamental difference between ac and dc is that on a dc network each substation includes
transformers and rectifiers which condition the power to the relatively low voltage required for
direct use by vehicle propulsion equipment. In ac systems the power is supplied by the
substations directly without rectification. This necessitates further transformation onboard the
rolling stock so the voltage is suitable for use by vehicle propulsion equipment.

Both systems offer distinct advantages and disadvantages, but with Delhi Metro using a 25kV ac
rigid catenary system both above and below ground, which is encouraging other new metro
projects in India to follow suit, it seems appropriate to consider what they might lose or gain by
copying this example.

Increasing capacity
With demand for rapid transit services on the rise, operators are constantly looking to increase
capacity and improve the efficiency of their networks. The norm for most metro line peak
services is 30 trains per hour, or two-minute headways, although there are some examples where
this is exceeded. For example Paris Metro Line 14's headways are as low as 85 seconds.
In theory adopting a 25kV ac traction system could be one way of achieving greater capacity
because it allows the operator to use longer trains more frequently. For mainline and high-speed
railways 25kV ac is now the most proven and widely used system. It offers a number of
advantages, including reducing the cost of power supply equipment, improving efficiency, and
using energy from braking more effectively which are all potentially attractive features to metro
operators. Power supply efficiency on a line equipped with 25kV ac overhead contact wire is also
98% although this may vary depending on rolling stock.

However, there are also several disadvantages of 25kV ac, particularly when applied in an urban
metro environment. With the overhead contact line system more prone to failure, regular
maintenance is necessary and requires a plan that is supported by a 24-hour maintenance team.
The potential for electromagnetic interference and the impact of magnetic fields on properties
and activities close to the line must also be considered, although special design features such as
return conductors or booster transformers that minimise magnetic fields are now common.

Tunnel construction that is suitable for overhead catenary will also be significantly more
expensive than for third rail because of the larger profile required. This is one of the major
factors why metros have traditionally tended to favour third rail. In addition, because the
onboard transformer imposes significant weight on the ac-powered rolling stock, metro
operators have typically found that dc systems are better suited for urban applications where
relatively short station spacing requires frequent and high acceleration.

On most third rail systems, the conductor rail is placed outside of the running rails and the
electricity is transmitted to the train by means of a sliding shoe, which is held in contact with the
rail. A third rail system offers a number of benefits, including:

eradicating the impact of electromagnetic interference on electrical components

reducing maintenance costs because power supply equipment is virtually maintenance-free

with only regular inspections and cleaning required, and

offering high efficiency - a 750V dc system offers a power supply transmission efficiency
average of 92-94%.

As a solid composite rail running along the track, a third rail is more rugged than an overhead
contact wire and has a longer life expectancy. The system similarly benefits from high reliability
because it is fed on both sides by rectifiers from adjacent substations, and it can offer lower
comparative initial costs than an ac system. Rolling stock used on these systems also tends to be
cheaper because no transformers are installed onboard which also reduces the weight of the
vehicles and increases capacity for passengers.

Inevitably there are a number of disadvantages with third rail, including unavoidable gaps in the
power supply at points and level crossings. Speeds are also restricted to 160km/h due to the
technical limitations of the system, while on lines electrified at 750V dc peak-time line capacity is
limited to 60,000 passengers per hour per direction. Stray currents are also possible, although
improvements in technology are managing and controlling this factor.

Some metros have found that adjusting voltages can mitigate some of the disadvantages of third
rail traction, particularly its capacity limitations. As a result a number of new build projects,
including Ahmadabad Metro, are considering electrifying at 1.5kV dc which is capable of
carrying more than 60,000 passengers per hour per direction.
A study performed for Dubai Metro found that a 1.5kV dc third rail traction system can also cost
up to 13% less than a 750V dc third rail system. One cost saving measure is the ability to locate
fewer substations at greater intervals which reduces maintenance costs.

Typical substation spacing is roughly 1.5 - 2km for 750V dc systems, and 3 - 4km for 1.5kV dc
systems although this distance is dependent on power demand, operating headways, system
design, and land availability. Increasing the voltage can similarly result in a reduction in
collector shoe maintenance costs, while stray currents, electromagnetic interference, and energy
use are all reduced, and performance improves increasing peak-hour capacity.

While adjusting voltages and the type of traction system used can improve capacity on a metro
system, it is the frequent station stops and terminal operations which are the major factors in
determining line capacity and train headways. Even if the traction system is capable of handling
the capacity required for longer trains, it is the length of the train itself which tends to increase
headways to more than two minutes because of the time it takes to transfer from up track to
down track at the end of the trip.

As a result reduced headways are only achievable on systems where shorter trains are used.
Hence the benefit of providing greater per hour per direction capacity by using 25kV ac traction
is lost in a practical application on a metro system. Introducing a communications-based
signalling system could be one way of reducing headways for longer trains, although on
underground lines ventilation and smoke control system regulations can restrict train length
because they require a distance of 200-300m between trains to allow effective and safe air
circulation.

It is within these parameters that one needs to look at the traction system applied and conclude
what is the most suitable application.

Delhi Metro, which is using a 25kV ac overhead system and is recommending that other metros
in India follow suit, has proposed shortening the length of trains that will be used on the third
phase of its network to provide a headway of 1min 50s. While the traction system may be able to
cater for more than 60,000 passengers per hour per direction under this plan, the system as a
whole will not support higher capacity due to the shorter train lengths required to achieve lower
headways.

As we have found, a 750V dc third rail system regularly caters for a six-car metro train operating
at two-minute headways. Planners would therefore be wise to consider all of the options
available with respect to the specific demands of their system when designing new metros, and
not to dismiss what some might consider as old fashioned third rail systems. In some instances
the efficiency savings that these systems offer could be of greater value than the promise of
increased capacity provided by overhead traction.