ELECTRICATION--ITS EFFECT ON SIGNALING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Electrification of a railroad generally involves costly changes to the signaling and communications facilities. Electrification provides significant benefits to the railroads and to the public. Power circuits will produce extraneous voltages and currents in communication circuits, caused by magnetic induction, electric induction, ground potential conduction, or accidental connection. Rails are grounded through ballast, and part of the return current flows through the ground. One means of reducing the induced voltages over long distances is the three-wire system using autotransformers and a negative feeder. Fault currents can cause high induced voltages and currents. Unless preventive steps are taken, hazards can exist for personnel and equipment. Electification will generally be applied to high density lines which already have extensive communications and signaling facilities. Installation will have to be accomplished under traffic without disruption of traffic. The challenge is to make the changes to signaling and communications add to the benefits rather than just to the costs. Several diagrams are included illustrating the induction effects.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was presented at the Tenth Annual Meeting of the Communication and Signal Section of the Association of American Railroads, San Francisco, California, September 15-17, 1970.
• Corporate Authors:

  Association of American Railroads Research Center

  3140 South Federal Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60616
• Authors:
  • Stinson, G E
• Publication Date: 1970-9

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 554-568

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Communications; Interference; Railroad electrification; Signaling
• Subject Areas: Construction; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00041610
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 15 1976 12:00AM