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id="toc-Gallery" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Gallery"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.1</span> <span>Gallery</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Gallery-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Advantages_and_disadvantages" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Advantages_and_disadvantages"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Advantages and disadvantages</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Advantages_and_disadvantages-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Advantages and disadvantages subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Advantages_and_disadvantages-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Safety" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Safety"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.1</span> <span>Safety</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Safety-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Weather_effects" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Weather_effects"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.2</span> <span>Weather effects</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Weather_effects-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Gaps" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Gaps"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.3</span> <span>Gaps</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Gaps-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Running_rails_for_power_supply" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Running_rails_for_power_supply"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.4</span> <span>Running rails for power supply</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Running_rails_for_power_supply-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Shoe_contact" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Shoe_contact"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.5</span> <span>Shoe contact</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Shoe_contact-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Contact_shoe_gallery" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Contact_shoe_gallery"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.5.1</span> <span>Contact shoe gallery</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Contact_shoe_gallery-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Electrical_considerations_and_alternative_technologies" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Electrical_considerations_and_alternative_technologies"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.6</span> <span>Electrical considerations and alternative technologies</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Electrical_considerations_and_alternative_technologies-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Return_current_mechanisms" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Return_current_mechanisms"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.7</span> <span>Return current mechanisms</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Return_current_mechanisms-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Aesthetic_considerations" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Aesthetic_considerations"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.8</span> <span>Aesthetic considerations</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Aesthetic_considerations-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Mixed_systems" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Mixed_systems"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Mixed systems</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Mixed_systems-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Mixed systems subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Mixed_systems-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-United_Kingdom" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#United_Kingdom"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1</span> <span>United Kingdom</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-United_Kingdom-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Eurostar/High_Speed_1" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Eurostar/High_Speed_1"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1.1</span> <span>Eurostar/High Speed 1</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Eurostar/High_Speed_1-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-North_London_Line" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#North_London_Line"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1.2</span> <span>North London Line</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-North_London_Line-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-West_London_Line" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#West_London_Line"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1.3</span> <span>West London Line</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-West_London_Line-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Thameslink" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Thameslink"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1.4</span> <span>Thameslink</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Thameslink-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Northern_City" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Northern_City"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1.5</span> <span>Northern City</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Northern_City-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-North_Downs_Line" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#North_Downs_Line"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1.6</span> <span>North Downs Line</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-North_Downs_Line-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Finland" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Finland"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.2</span> <span>Finland</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Finland-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-France" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#France"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.3</span> <span>France</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-France-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Netherlands" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Netherlands"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.4</span> <span>Netherlands</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Netherlands-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-United_States" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#United_States"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.5</span> <span>United States</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-United_States-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Simultaneous_use_with_overhead_wire" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Simultaneous_use_with_overhead_wire"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Simultaneous use with overhead wire</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Simultaneous_use_with_overhead_wire-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Non-standard_voltages" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Non-standard_voltages"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Non-standard voltages</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Non-standard_voltages-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-History" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#History"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>History</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-History-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Model_railways" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Model_railways"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>Model railways</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Model_railways-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Third rail</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 34 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-34" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">34 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%83%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A9" title="السكة الثالثة – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="السكة الثالثة" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-az mw-list-item"><a href="https://az.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kontakt_relsi" title="Kontakt relsi – Azerbaijani" lang="az" hreflang="az" data-title="Kontakt relsi" data-language-autonym="Azərbaycanca" data-language-local-name="Azerbaijani" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Azərbaycanca</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bn mw-list-item"><a href="https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%83%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC_%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2" title="তৃতীয় রেল – Bangla" lang="bn" hreflang="bn" data-title="তৃতীয় রেল" data-language-autonym="বাংলা" data-language-local-name="Bangla" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>বাংলা</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tercer_carril" title="Tercer carril – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Tercer carril" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nap%C3%A1jec%C3%AD_kolejnice" title="Napájecí kolejnice – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="Napájecí kolejnice" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Str%C3%B8mskinne" title="Strømskinne – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="Strømskinne" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stromschiene" title="Stromschiene – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Stromschiene" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-et mw-list-item"><a href="https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toiter%C3%B6%C3%B6bas" title="Toiterööbas – Estonian" lang="et" hreflang="et" data-title="Toiterööbas" data-language-autonym="Eesti" data-language-local-name="Estonian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Eesti</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tercer_riel_(alimentaci%C3%B3n)" title="Tercer riel (alimentación) – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Tercer riel (alimentación)" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eo mw-list-item"><a href="https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kontaktrelo" title="Kontaktrelo – Esperanto" lang="eo" hreflang="eo" data-title="Kontaktrelo" data-language-autonym="Esperanto" data-language-local-name="Esperanto" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Esperanto</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%84_%D8%B3%D9%88%D9%85" title="ریل سوم – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="ریل سوم" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troisi%C3%A8me_rail" title="Troisième rail – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Troisième rail" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%A0%9C3%EA%B6%A4%EC%A1%B0" title="제3궤조 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="제3궤조" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rel_ketiga" title="Rel ketiga – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="Rel ketiga" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terza_rotaia" title="Terza rotaia – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Terza rotaia" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ka mw-list-item"><a href="https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%83%A1%E1%83%90%E1%83%99%E1%83%9D%E1%83%9C%E1%83%A2%E1%83%90%E1%83%A5%E1%83%A2%E1%83%9D_%E1%83%A0%E1%83%94%E1%83%9A%E1%83%A1%E1%83%98" title="საკონტაქტო რელსი – Georgian" lang="ka" hreflang="ka" data-title="საკონტაქტო რელსი" data-language-autonym="ქართული" data-language-local-name="Georgian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ქართული</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lmo mw-list-item"><a href="https://lmo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terza_rodaia" title="Terza rodaia – Lombard" lang="lmo" hreflang="lmo" data-title="Terza rodaia" data-language-autonym="Lombard" data-language-local-name="Lombard" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Lombard</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hu mw-list-item"><a href="https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmadik_s%C3%ADn" title="Harmadik sín – Hungarian" lang="hu" hreflang="hu" data-title="Harmadik sín" data-language-autonym="Magyar" data-language-local-name="Hungarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Magyar</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ms mw-list-item"><a href="https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rel_ketiga" title="Rel ketiga – Malay" lang="ms" hreflang="ms" data-title="Rel ketiga" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Melayu" data-language-local-name="Malay" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Melayu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derde_rail" title="Derde rail – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Derde rail" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%BB%8C%E6%9D%A1%E6%96%B9%E5%BC%8F" title="第三軌条方式 – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="第三軌条方式" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-no mw-list-item"><a href="https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Str%C3%B8mskinne" title="Strømskinne – Norwegian Bokmål" lang="nb" hreflang="nb" data-title="Strømskinne" data-language-autonym="Norsk bokmål" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Bokmål" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk bokmål</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trzecia_szyna" title="Trzecia szyna – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Trzecia szyna" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terceiro_carril" title="Terceiro carril – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Terceiro carril" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9_%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81" title="Контактный рельс – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Контактный рельс" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-simple mw-list-item"><a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_rail" title="Third rail – Simple English" lang="en-simple" hreflang="en-simple" data-title="Third rail" data-language-autonym="Simple English" data-language-local-name="Simple English" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Simple English</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sk mw-list-item"><a href="https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nap%C3%A1jacia_ko%C4%BEajnica" title="Napájacia koľajnica – Slovak" lang="sk" hreflang="sk" data-title="Napájacia koľajnica" data-language-autonym="Slovenčina" 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div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">This article is about the power system for railways. For other uses, see <a href="/wiki/Third_rail_(disambiguation)" class="mw-disambig" title="Third rail (disambiguation)">Third rail (disambiguation)</a>.</div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">"Power rail" redirects here. For the use in power supplies, see <a href="/wiki/Power_rail_(power_supplies)" class="mw-redirect" title="Power rail (power supplies)">Power rail (power supplies)</a>.</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1251242444">.mw-parser-output .ambox{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;border-left:10px solid #36c;background-color:#fbfbfb;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+link+.ambox{margin-top:-1px}html body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .ambox.mbox-small-left{margin:4px 1em 4px 0;overflow:hidden;width:238px;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em}.mw-parser-output .ambox-speedy{border-left:10px solid #b32424;background-color:#fee7e6}.mw-parser-output .ambox-delete{border-left:10px solid #b32424}.mw-parser-output .ambox-content{border-left:10px solid #f28500}.mw-parser-output .ambox-style{border-left:10px solid #fc3}.mw-parser-output .ambox-move{border-left:10px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ambox-protection{border-left:10px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.5em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.5em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image-div{width:52px}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ambox{margin:0 10%}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .ambox{display:none!important}}</style><table class="box-More_citations_needed plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Refimprove" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="39" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/75px-Question_book-new.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/100px-Question_book-new.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="399" /></a></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This article <b>needs additional citations for <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">verification</a></b>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> Please help <a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Third_rail" title="Special:EditPage/Third rail">improve this article</a> by <a href="/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners" title="Help:Referencing for beginners">adding citations to reliable sources</a>. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.<br /><small><span class="plainlinks"><i>Find sources:</i> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?as_eq=wikipedia&q=%22Third+rail%22">"Third rail"</a> – <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbm=nws&q=%22Third+rail%22+-wikipedia&tbs=ar:1">news</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?&q=%22Third+rail%22&tbs=bkt:s&tbm=bks">newspapers</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbs=bks:1&q=%22Third+rail%22+-wikipedia">books</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22Third+rail%22">scholar</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/action/doBasicSearch?Query=%22Third+rail%22&acc=on&wc=on">JSTOR</a></span></small></span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">June 2021</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Hugh_llewelyn_442_442_(6620468847).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Hugh_llewelyn_442_442_%286620468847%29.jpg/220px-Hugh_llewelyn_442_442_%286620468847%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Hugh_llewelyn_442_442_%286620468847%29.jpg/330px-Hugh_llewelyn_442_442_%286620468847%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Hugh_llewelyn_442_442_%286620468847%29.jpg/440px-Hugh_llewelyn_442_442_%286620468847%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="597" data-file-height="400" /></a><figcaption>A <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_442" title="British Rail Class 442">British Rail Class 442</a> third-rail <a href="/wiki/Electric_multiple_unit" title="Electric multiple unit">electric multiple unit</a> in <a href="/wiki/Battersea" title="Battersea">Battersea</a></figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:NYC_Subway_Third_Rail_Induction_Motor.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/NYC_Subway_Third_Rail_Induction_Motor.jpg/220px-NYC_Subway_Third_Rail_Induction_Motor.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="293" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/NYC_Subway_Third_Rail_Induction_Motor.jpg/330px-NYC_Subway_Third_Rail_Induction_Motor.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/NYC_Subway_Third_Rail_Induction_Motor.jpg/440px-NYC_Subway_Third_Rail_Induction_Motor.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3024" data-file-height="4032" /></a><figcaption>The <a href="/wiki/Contact_shoe" class="mw-redirect" title="Contact shoe">contact shoe</a> of a <a href="/wiki/New_York_City_Subway" title="New York City Subway">New York City Subway</a> car making contact with the third rail. In the foreground is the third rail for the adjacent track.</figcaption></figure> <p>A <b>third rail</b>, also known as a <b>live rail</b>, <b>electric rail</b> or <b>conductor rail</b>, is a method of providing <a href="/wiki/Electricity" title="Electricity">electric power</a> to a railway <a href="/wiki/Locomotive" title="Locomotive">locomotive</a> or train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a <a href="/wiki/Track_(rail_transport)" class="mw-redirect" title="Track (rail transport)">railway track</a>. It is used typically in a <a href="/wiki/Mass_transit" class="mw-redirect" title="Mass transit">mass transit</a> or <a href="/wiki/Rapid_transit" title="Rapid transit">rapid transit</a> system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost fully segregated from the outside environment. Third-rail systems are usually supplied from <a href="/wiki/Direct_current" title="Direct current">direct current</a> electricity. </p><p>Modern tram systems with street-running avoid the risk of electrocution by the exposed electric rail by implementing a segmented <a href="/wiki/Ground-level_power_supply" title="Ground-level power supply">ground-level power supply</a>, where each segment is electrified only while covered by a vehicle which is using its power.<sup id="cite_ref-groundlevelpowersupply_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-groundlevelpowersupply-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The third-rail system of electrification is not related to the third rail used in <a href="/wiki/Dual_gauge" title="Dual gauge">dual-gauge</a> railways. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Description">Description</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Description"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Third-rail systems are a means of providing electric traction power to trains using an additional rail (called a "conductor rail") for the purpose. On most systems, the conductor rail is placed on the <a href="/wiki/Railroad_tie" title="Railroad tie">sleeper</a> ends outside the running rails, but in some systems a central conductor rail is used. The conductor rail is supported on <a href="/wiki/Ceramic" title="Ceramic">ceramic</a> <a href="/wiki/Insulator_(electricity)" title="Insulator (electricity)">insulators</a> (known as "pots"), at top contact or insulated <a href="/wiki/Bracket_(architecture)#Specialized_brackets" title="Bracket (architecture)">brackets</a>, at bottom contact, typically at intervals of around 10 feet (3.0 m).<sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="margin-left:0.1em; white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify" title="Wikipedia:Please clarify"><span title="The text near this tag may need clarification or removal of jargon. (March 2024)">clarification needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p>The trains have metal contact blocks called collector shoes (also known as <a href="/wiki/Contact_shoe" class="mw-redirect" title="Contact shoe">contact shoes</a> or pickup shoes) which make contact with the conductor rail. The traction current is returned to the generating station through the running rails. In North America, the conductor rail is usually made of high conductivity <a href="/wiki/Steel" title="Steel">steel</a> or steel bolted to <a href="/wiki/Aluminium" title="Aluminium">aluminium</a> to increase the conductivity. Elsewhere in the world, extruded aluminium conductors with stainless steel contact surface or cap, is the preferred technology due to its lower electrical resistance, longer life, and lighter weight.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The running rails are electrically connected using wire bonds or other devices, to minimise resistance in the electric circuit. Contact shoes can be positioned below, above, or beside the third rail, depending on the type of third rail used: these third rails are referred to as bottom-contact, top-contact, or side-contact, respectively. </p><p>The conductor rails have to be interrupted at <a href="/wiki/Level_crossing" title="Level crossing">level crossings</a>, <a href="/wiki/Crossover_(rail)" class="mw-redirect" title="Crossover (rail)">crossovers</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Traction_substation" title="Traction substation">substation</a> gaps. Tapered rails are provided at the ends of each section to allow a smooth engagement of the train's contact shoes. </p><p>The position of contact between the train and the rail varies: some of the earliest systems used top contact, but later developments use side or bottom contact, which enabled the conductor rail to be covered, protecting track workers from accidental contact and protecting the conductor rail from frost, ice, snow and leaf-fall.<sup id="cite_ref-rlhs_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-rlhs-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Gallery">Gallery</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Gallery"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional center"> <li class="gallerycaption">Descriptions</li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 285px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 280px; height: 190px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Thirdrailillustration.png" class="mw-file-description" title="Third rail layout: 1: coverboard 2: power rail 3: insulator 4: sleeper 5: rail"><img alt="Third rail layout: 1: coverboard 2: power rail 3: insulator 4: sleeper 5: rail" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Thirdrailillustration.png/198px-Thirdrailillustration.png" decoding="async" width="198" height="160" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Thirdrailillustration.png/297px-Thirdrailillustration.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Thirdrailillustration.png/396px-Thirdrailillustration.png 2x" data-file-width="1030" data-file-height="833" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Third rail layout:<br />1: <a href="/wiki/Plank_(wood)#Coverboard" title="Plank (wood)">coverboard</a> 2: <a href="/wiki/Electricity" title="Electricity">power</a> <a href="/wiki/Rail_profile" title="Rail profile">rail</a> 3: <a href="/wiki/Insulator_(electricity)" title="Insulator (electricity)">insulator</a> 4: <a href="/wiki/Railroad_tie" title="Railroad tie">sleeper</a> 5: <a href="/wiki/Rail_profile" title="Rail profile">rail</a></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 285px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 280px; height: 190px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Third_Rail_for_Toronto_Transit_Commission.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Third rail (top) at Bloor-Yonge station (Line 1) on the Toronto subway. Energized at 600 volts DC, the third rail provides electrical power to the power-train, and ancillaries of the subway cars."><img alt="Third rail (top) at Bloor-Yonge station (Line 1) on the Toronto subway. Energized at 600 volts DC, the third rail provides electrical power to the power-train, and ancillaries of the subway cars." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Third_Rail_for_Toronto_Transit_Commission.jpg/240px-Third_Rail_for_Toronto_Transit_Commission.jpg" decoding="async" width="240" height="160" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Third_Rail_for_Toronto_Transit_Commission.jpg/360px-Third_Rail_for_Toronto_Transit_Commission.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Third_Rail_for_Toronto_Transit_Commission.jpg/480px-Third_Rail_for_Toronto_Transit_Commission.jpg 2x" data-file-width="6000" data-file-height="4000" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Third rail (top) at <a href="/wiki/Bloor-Yonge_station" class="mw-redirect" title="Bloor-Yonge station">Bloor-Yonge station</a> (<a href="/wiki/Line_1_Yonge%E2%80%93University" title="Line 1 Yonge–University">Line 1</a>) on the <a href="/wiki/Toronto_subway" title="Toronto subway">Toronto subway</a>. Energized at 600 volts DC, the third rail provides electrical power to the <a href="/wiki/Traction_motor" title="Traction motor">power-train</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Head-end_power" title="Head-end power">ancillaries</a> of the subway cars.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 285px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 280px; height: 190px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Metro_Paris_rubber_wheel.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Paris Métro. The guiding rails of the rubber-tyred lines also function as current conductors. The horizontal contact shoe is between the pair of rubber wheels."><img alt="Paris Métro. The guiding rails of the rubber-tyred lines also function as current conductors. The horizontal contact shoe is between the pair of rubber wheels." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Metro_Paris_rubber_wheel.jpg/213px-Metro_Paris_rubber_wheel.jpg" decoding="async" width="213" height="160" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Metro_Paris_rubber_wheel.jpg/320px-Metro_Paris_rubber_wheel.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Metro_Paris_rubber_wheel.jpg/427px-Metro_Paris_rubber_wheel.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2048" data-file-height="1536" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Paris_M%C3%A9tro" title="Paris Métro">Paris Métro</a>. The <a href="/wiki/Guide_bar" title="Guide bar">guiding rails</a> of the rubber-tyred lines also function as <a href="/wiki/Electrical_conductor" title="Electrical conductor">current conductors</a>. The horizontal <a href="/wiki/Contact_shoe" class="mw-redirect" title="Contact shoe">contact shoe</a> is between the pair of rubber wheels.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 285px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 280px; height: 190px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Stansted_Airport_People_Mover.JPG" class="mw-file-description" title="London Stansted Airport people mover, showing rail switch"><img alt="London Stansted Airport people mover, showing rail switch" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Stansted_Airport_People_Mover.JPG/213px-Stansted_Airport_People_Mover.JPG" decoding="async" width="213" height="160" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Stansted_Airport_People_Mover.JPG/320px-Stansted_Airport_People_Mover.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Stansted_Airport_People_Mover.JPG/427px-Stansted_Airport_People_Mover.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2592" data-file-height="1944" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">London Stansted Airport people mover, showing rail switch</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Advantages_and_disadvantages">Advantages and disadvantages</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Advantages and disadvantages"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Safety">Safety</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Safety"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Embossed_third_rail_side_contact_ramp.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Embossed_third_rail_side_contact_ramp.jpg/220px-Embossed_third_rail_side_contact_ramp.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="283" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Embossed_third_rail_side_contact_ramp.jpg/330px-Embossed_third_rail_side_contact_ramp.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Embossed_third_rail_side_contact_ramp.jpg/440px-Embossed_third_rail_side_contact_ramp.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1472" data-file-height="1896" /></a><figcaption>Entry ramp for side-contact third rail.</figcaption></figure> <p>Because third-rail systems, which are located close to the ground, present <a href="/wiki/Electric_shock" class="mw-redirect" title="Electric shock">electric shock</a> hazards, high voltages (above 1500 V) are not considered safe. A very high current must therefore be used to transfer adequate power to the train, resulting in high <a href="/wiki/Resistive_loss" class="mw-redirect" title="Resistive loss">resistive losses</a>, and requiring relatively closely spaced feed points (<a href="/wiki/Electrical_substation" class="mw-redirect" title="Electrical substation">electrical substations</a>). </p><p>The electrified rail threatens <a href="/wiki/Electrocution" title="Electrocution">electrocution</a> of anyone wandering or falling onto the tracks. This can be avoided by using <a href="/wiki/Platform_screen_doors" title="Platform screen doors">platform screen doors</a>, or the risk can be reduced by placing the conductor rail on the side of the track away from the platform, when allowed by the station layout. The risk can also be reduced by having a <a href="/wiki/Coverboard" class="mw-redirect" title="Coverboard">coverboard</a>, supported by <a href="/wiki/Bracket_(architecture)#Specialized_brackets" title="Bracket (architecture)">brackets</a>, to protect the third rail from contact, although many systems do not use one. Where coverboards are used, they reduce the <a href="/wiki/Structure_gauge" title="Structure gauge">structure gauge</a> near the top of rail. This in turn reduces the <a href="/wiki/Loading_gauge" title="Loading gauge">loading gauge</a>. </p><p>There is also a risk of pedestrians walking onto the tracks at <a href="/wiki/Level_crossings" class="mw-redirect" title="Level crossings">level crossings</a> and accidentally touching the third rail, unless <a href="/wiki/Grade_separation" title="Grade separation">grade separation</a> is fully implemented. In the United States, a 1992 <a href="/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Illinois" title="Supreme Court of Illinois">Supreme Court of Illinois</a> decision affirmed a $1.5 million verdict against the <a href="/wiki/Chicago_Transit_Authority" title="Chicago Transit Authority">Chicago Transit Authority</a> for failing to stop an intoxicated person from walking onto the tracks at a level crossing at the <a href="/wiki/Kedzie_station_(CTA_Brown_Line)" title="Kedzie station (CTA Brown Line)">Kedzie station</a> in an apparent attempt to urinate.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The end ramps of conductor rails (where they are interrupted, or change sides) present a practical limitation on speed due to the mechanical impact of the shoe, and 161 km/h (100 mph) is considered the upper limit of practical third-rail operation. The world speed record for a third rail train is 175 km/h (109 mph) attained on 11 April 1988 by a British <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_442" title="British Rail Class 442">Class 442</a> <a href="/wiki/Electric_multiple_unit" title="Electric multiple unit">EMU</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-:0_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In the event of a collision with a foreign object, the beveled end ramps of bottom running systems can facilitate the hazard of having the third rail penetrate the interior of a passenger car. This is believed to have contributed to the death of five passengers in the <a href="/wiki/Valhalla_train_crash" title="Valhalla train crash">Valhalla train crash</a> of 2015.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Modern systems, such as <a href="/wiki/Ground-level_power_supply" title="Ground-level power supply">ground-level power supply</a> (first used in the <a href="/wiki/Tramway_of_Bordeaux" class="mw-redirect" title="Tramway of Bordeaux">tramway of Bordeaux</a> in 2003), avoid the safety problem by segmenting the powered rail, with each segment being powered only when fully covered by the vehicle which utilizes its power.<sup id="cite_ref-groundlevelpowersupply_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-groundlevelpowersupply-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Weather_effects">Weather effects</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Weather effects"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Third-rail systems using top contact are prone to accumulations of snow, or ice formed from refrozen snow, and this can interrupt operations. Some systems operate dedicated de-icing trains to deposit an oily fluid or antifreeze (such as <a href="/wiki/Propylene_glycol" title="Propylene glycol">propylene glycol</a>) on the conductor rail to prevent the frozen build-up. The third rail can also be heated to alleviate the problem of ice. </p><p>Unlike overhead line equipment, third-rail systems are not susceptible to strong winds or <a href="/wiki/Freezing_rain" title="Freezing rain">freezing rain</a>, which can bring down overhead wires and hence disable all trains. <a href="/wiki/Thunderstorms" class="mw-redirect" title="Thunderstorms">Thunderstorms</a> can also disable the power with <a href="/wiki/Lightning" title="Lightning">lightning</a> strikes on systems with <a href="/wiki/Overhead_wires" class="mw-redirect" title="Overhead wires">overhead wires</a>, disabling trains if there is a <a href="/wiki/Voltage_spike" title="Voltage spike">power surge</a> or a break in the wires. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Gaps">Gaps</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Gaps"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><span class="anchor" id="gapped"></span> Depending on train and track geometry, gaps in the conductor rail (e.g., at level crossings and junctions) could allow a train to stop in a position where all of its power pickup shoes are in gaps, so that no traction power is available. The train is then said to be "gapped". Another train must then be brought up behind the stranded train to push it on to the conductor rail, or a <a href="/wiki/Jumper_cable" title="Jumper cable">jumper cable</a> may be used to supply enough power to the train to get one of its contact shoes back on the live rail. Avoiding this problem requires a minimum length of trains that can be run on a line. Locomotives have either had the backup of an on-board <a href="/wiki/Diesel_engine" title="Diesel engine">diesel engine</a> system (e.g., <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_73" title="British Rail Class 73">British Rail Class 73</a>), or have been connected to shoes on the rolling stock (e.g. <a href="/wiki/Metropolitan_Railway" title="Metropolitan Railway">Metropolitan Railway</a>). </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Running_rails_for_power_supply">Running rails for power supply</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Running rails for power supply"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The first idea for feeding electricity to a train from an external source was by using both rails on which a train runs, whereby each rail is a conductor for each polarity, and is insulated by the <a href="/wiki/Sleeper_(rail)" class="mw-redirect" title="Sleeper (rail)">sleepers</a>. This method is used by most scale <a href="/wiki/Model_train" class="mw-redirect" title="Model train">model trains</a>; however, it does not work as well for large trains as the sleepers are not good insulators. Furthermore, the electric connection requires insulated wheels or insulated axles, but most insulation materials have poor mechanical properties compared with metals used for this purpose, leading to a less stable train vehicle. Nevertheless, it was sometimes used at the beginning of the development of electric trains. The oldest electric railway in the world, <a href="/wiki/Volk%27s_Electric_Railway" title="Volk's Electric Railway">Volk's Railway</a> in Brighton, England, was originally electrified at 50 volts DC using this system (it is now a three-rail system). Other railway systems that used it were the <a href="/wiki/Gross-Lichterfelde_Tramway" title="Gross-Lichterfelde Tramway">Gross-Lichterfelde Tramway</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Ungerer_Tramway" title="Ungerer Tramway">Ungerer Tramway</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Shoe_contact">Shoe contact</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Shoe contact"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/Current_collector#Contact_shoe" title="Current collector">Current collector § Contact shoe</a></div> <p>The third rail is usually located outside the two running rails, but on some systems it is mounted between them. The electricity is transmitted to the train by means of a <a href="/wiki/Contact_shoe" class="mw-redirect" title="Contact shoe">sliding shoe</a>, which is held in contact with the rail. On many systems, an insulating cover is provided above the third rail to protect employees working near the track; sometimes the shoe is designed to contact the side (called "side running") or bottom (called "bottom running" or "under-running") of the third rail, allowing the protective cover to be mounted directly to its top surface. When the shoe slides along the top surface, it is referred to as "top running". When the shoe slides along the bottom surface, it is less affected by the build-up of snow, ice, or leaves,<sup id="cite_ref-rlhs_3-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-rlhs-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and reduces the chances of a person being electrocuted by coming in contact with the rail. Examples of systems using under-running third rail include <a href="/wiki/Metro-North" class="mw-redirect" title="Metro-North">Metro-North</a> in the <a href="/wiki/New_York_metropolitan_area" title="New York metropolitan area">New York metropolitan area</a>;<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> the <a href="/wiki/SEPTA" title="SEPTA">SEPTA</a> <a href="/wiki/Market%E2%80%93Frankford_Line" title="Market–Frankford Line">Market–Frankford Line</a> in <a href="/wiki/Philadelphia" title="Philadelphia">Philadelphia</a>;<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and London's <a href="/wiki/Docklands_Light_Railway" title="Docklands Light Railway">Docklands Light Railway</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Contact_shoe_gallery">Contact shoe gallery</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Contact shoe gallery"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional center"> <li class="gallerycaption">Contact shoes</li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 285px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 280px; height: 190px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:M8_railcar_-9101_contact_shoe,_September_2016.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Contact shoe on Metro-North M8 railcar, designed for both over- and under-running third rail.[10]"><img alt="Contact shoe on Metro-North M8 railcar, designed for both over- and under-running third rail.[10]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/M8_railcar_-9101_contact_shoe%2C_September_2016.jpg/212px-M8_railcar_-9101_contact_shoe%2C_September_2016.jpg" decoding="async" width="212" height="160" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/M8_railcar_-9101_contact_shoe%2C_September_2016.jpg/318px-M8_railcar_-9101_contact_shoe%2C_September_2016.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/M8_railcar_-9101_contact_shoe%2C_September_2016.jpg/423px-M8_railcar_-9101_contact_shoe%2C_September_2016.jpg 2x" data-file-width="816" data-file-height="617" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Contact_shoe" class="mw-redirect" title="Contact shoe">Contact shoe</a> on <a href="/wiki/Metro-North_Railroad" title="Metro-North Railroad">Metro-North</a> <a href="/wiki/M8_(railcar)" title="M8 (railcar)">M8 railcar</a>, designed for both over- and under-running third rail.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 285px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 280px; height: 190px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Third_Rail_contact_shoe.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="A contact shoe for top-contact third rail on SEPTA's Norristown High Speed Line (third rail not visible)"><img alt="A contact shoe for top-contact third rail on SEPTA's Norristown High Speed Line (third rail not visible)" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Third_Rail_contact_shoe.jpg/185px-Third_Rail_contact_shoe.jpg" decoding="async" width="185" height="160" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Third_Rail_contact_shoe.jpg/278px-Third_Rail_contact_shoe.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Third_Rail_contact_shoe.jpg/370px-Third_Rail_contact_shoe.jpg 2x" data-file-width="518" data-file-height="448" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">A <a href="/wiki/Contact_shoe" class="mw-redirect" title="Contact shoe">contact shoe</a> for top-contact third rail on <a href="/wiki/SEPTA" title="SEPTA">SEPTA</a>'s <a href="/wiki/Norristown_High_Speed_Line" title="Norristown High Speed Line">Norristown High Speed Line</a> (third rail not visible)</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 285px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 280px; height: 190px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:CTA_third_rail_contact_shoe.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Third rail contact shoe of CTA Chicago 'L' car"><img alt="Third rail contact shoe of CTA Chicago 'L' car" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/CTA_third_rail_contact_shoe.jpg/240px-CTA_third_rail_contact_shoe.jpg" decoding="async" width="240" height="160" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/CTA_third_rail_contact_shoe.jpg/360px-CTA_third_rail_contact_shoe.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/CTA_third_rail_contact_shoe.jpg/480px-CTA_third_rail_contact_shoe.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4368" data-file-height="2912" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Third rail <a href="/wiki/Contact_shoe" class="mw-redirect" title="Contact shoe">contact shoe</a> of <a href="/wiki/Chicago_Transit_Authority" title="Chicago Transit Authority">CTA</a> <a href="/wiki/Chicago_%27L%27" class="mw-redirect" title="Chicago 'L'">Chicago 'L'</a> car</div> </li> </ul> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Electrical_considerations_and_alternative_technologies">Electrical considerations and alternative technologies</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Electrical considerations and alternative technologies"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Electric traction trains (using electric power generated at a remote power station and transmitted to the trains) are considerably more cost-effective than diesel or steam units, where separate power units must be carried on each train. This advantage is especially marked in urban and rapid transit systems with a high traffic density. </p><p>Because of mechanical limitations on the contact to the third rail, trains that use this method of power supply achieve lower speeds than those using <a href="/wiki/Overhead_line" title="Overhead line">overhead electric wires</a> and a <a href="/wiki/Pantograph_(rail)" class="mw-redirect" title="Pantograph (rail)">pantograph</a>. Nevertheless, they may be preferred inside cities as there is no need for <a href="/wiki/High-speed_rail" title="High-speed rail">very high speed</a> and they cause less <a href="/wiki/Visual_pollution" title="Visual pollution">visual pollution</a>. </p><p>The third rail is an alternative to <a href="/wiki/Overhead_line" title="Overhead line">overhead lines</a> that transmit power to trains by means of <a href="/wiki/Pantograph_(rail)" class="mw-redirect" title="Pantograph (rail)">pantographs</a> attached to the trains. Whereas overhead-wire systems can operate at <a href="/wiki/25_kV_AC" class="mw-redirect" title="25 kV AC">25 kV</a> or more, using <a href="/wiki/Alternating_current" title="Alternating current">alternating current</a> (AC), the smaller clearance around a live rail imposes a maximum of about 1200 V, with some systems using 1500 V (<a href="/wiki/Line_4,_Guangzhou_Metro" class="mw-redirect" title="Line 4, Guangzhou Metro">Line 4, Guangzhou Metro</a>, <a href="/wiki/Line_5,_Guangzhou_Metro" class="mw-redirect" title="Line 5, Guangzhou Metro">Line 5, Guangzhou Metro</a>, <a href="/wiki/Line_3_(Shenzhen_Metro)" title="Line 3 (Shenzhen Metro)">Line 3, Shenzhen Metro</a>), and <a href="/wiki/Direct_current" title="Direct current">direct current</a> (DC) is used.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="Need source for 1500 V limit (October 2018)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> Trains on some lines or networks use both power supply modes (see <a href="#Mixed_systems">§ Mixed systems</a> below). </p><p>All third-rail systems throughout the world are energised with DC supplies. Some of the reasons for this are historical. Early traction engines were DC motors, and the then-available rectifying equipment was large, expensive and impractical to install onboard trains. Also, transmission of the relatively high currents required results in higher losses with AC than DC.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Substations for a DC system will have to be (typically) about 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) apart, though the actual spacing depends on the carrying capacity, maximum speed, and service frequency of the line. </p><p>One method for reducing current losses (and thus increase the spacing of feeder/substations, a major cost in third rail electrification) is to use a composite conductor rail of a hybrid aluminium/steel design. The aluminium is a better conductor of electricity, and a running face of stainless steel gives better wear. </p><p>There are several ways of attaching the stainless steel to the aluminium. The oldest is a co-extruded method, where the stainless steel is extruded with the aluminium. This method has suffered, in isolated cases, from de-lamination (where the stainless steel separates from the aluminium); this is said to have been eliminated in the latest co-extruded rails. A second method is an aluminium core, upon which two stainless steel sections are fitted as a cap and linear welded along the centre line of the rail. Because aluminium has a higher <a href="/wiki/Coefficient_of_thermal_expansion" class="mw-redirect" title="Coefficient of thermal expansion">coefficient of thermal expansion</a> than steel, the aluminium and steel must be positively locked to provide a good current collection interface. A third method rivets aluminium bus strips to the web of the steel rail. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Return_current_mechanisms">Return current mechanisms</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Return current mechanisms"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>As with overhead wires, the return current usually flows through one or both running rails, and leakage to ground is not considered serious. Where trains run on rubber tyres, as on parts of the <a href="/wiki/Lyon_Metro" title="Lyon Metro">Lyon Metro</a>, <a href="/wiki/Paris_M%C3%A9tro" title="Paris Métro">Paris Métro</a>, <a href="/wiki/Mexico_City_Metro" title="Mexico City Metro">Mexico City Metro</a>, <a href="/wiki/Santiago_Metro" title="Santiago Metro">Santiago Metro</a>, <a href="/wiki/Sapporo_Municipal_Subway" title="Sapporo Municipal Subway">Sapporo Municipal Subway</a>, and on all of the <a href="/wiki/Montreal_Metro" title="Montreal Metro">Montreal Metro</a> and some <a href="/wiki/Automated_guideway_transit" title="Automated guideway transit">automated guideway transit</a> systems (e.g. the <a href="/wiki/Astram_Line" title="Astram Line">Astram Line</a>), a live rail must be provided to feed the current. The return is effected through the rails of the conventional track between these <a href="/wiki/Guide_bar" title="Guide bar">guide bars</a> (<i>see <a href="/wiki/Rubber-tyred_metro" title="Rubber-tyred metro">rubber-tyred metro</a></i>). </p><p>Another design, with a third rail (current feed, outside the running rails) and fourth rail (current return, midway between the running rails), is used by a few steel-wheel systems; see <a href="/wiki/Fourth_rail" class="mw-redirect" title="Fourth rail">fourth rail</a>. The <a href="/wiki/London_Underground" title="London Underground">London Underground</a> is the largest of these (see <a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_Great_Britain#630_V_DC,_fourth_rail_(top_contact)" title="Railway electrification in Great Britain">railway electrification in Great Britain</a>). The main reason for using the fourth rail to carry the return current is to avoid this current flowing through the original metal tunnel linings which were never intended to carry current, and which would suffer <a href="/wiki/Electrolytic_corrosion" class="mw-redirect" title="Electrolytic corrosion">electrolytic corrosion</a> should such currents flow in them. </p><p>Another four-rail system is line M1 of the <a href="/wiki/Milan_Metro" title="Milan Metro">Milan Metro</a>, where current is drawn by a lateral, flat bar with side contact, with return via a central rail with top contact. Along some sections on the northern part of the line an <a href="/wiki/Overhead_line" title="Overhead line">overhead line</a> is also in place, to allow line M2's trains (that use pantographs and higher voltage, and have no contact shoes) to access a depot located on line M1. In depots, line M1 trains use pantographs because of safety reasons, with transition made near the depots away from revenue tracks. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Aesthetic_considerations">Aesthetic considerations</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Aesthetic considerations"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Third rail electrification is less visually obtrusive than <a href="/wiki/Overhead_line" title="Overhead line">overhead electrification</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Mixed_systems">Mixed systems</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Mixed systems"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main articles: <a href="/wiki/Multi-system_(rail)" title="Multi-system (rail)">Multi-system (rail)</a> and <a href="/wiki/Electro-diesel_locomotive" title="Electro-diesel locomotive">Electro-diesel locomotive</a></div> <p>Several systems use a third rail for part of the route, and other motive power such as overhead <a href="/wiki/Overhead_lines" class="mw-redirect" title="Overhead lines">catenary</a> or diesel power for the remainder. These may exist because of the connection of separately owned railways using the different motive systems, local ordinances, or other historical reasons. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="United_Kingdom">United Kingdom</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: United Kingdom"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_Great_Britain" title="Railway electrification in Great Britain">Railway electrification in Great Britain</a></div> <p>Several types of British trains have been able to operate on both overhead and third-rail systems, including <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_313" title="British Rail Class 313">British Rail Class 313</a>, <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_319" title="British Rail Class 319">319</a>, <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_325" title="British Rail Class 325">325</a>, <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_350" title="British Rail Class 350">350</a>, <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_365" title="British Rail Class 365">365</a>, <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_375" title="British Rail Class 375">375/6</a>, <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_377" title="British Rail Class 377">377/2</a>, <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_377" title="British Rail Class 377">377/5</a>, <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_377" title="British Rail Class 377">377/7</a>, <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_378" title="British Rail Class 378">378/2</a>, <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_387" title="British Rail Class 387">387</a>, <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_373" title="British Rail Class 373">373</a>, <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_395" title="British Rail Class 395">395</a>, <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_700" title="British Rail Class 700">700</a> and <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_717" title="British Rail Class 717">717</a> EMUs, as well as <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_92" title="British Rail Class 92">Class 92</a> locomotives. </p><p><a href="/wiki/Network_Rail" title="Network Rail">Network Rail</a> claims to run the world's largest third-rail network.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>On the southern region of British Rail, freight yards had<sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Dates_and_numbers#Chronological_items" title="Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers"><span title="The time period mentioned near this tag is ambiguous. (May 2021)">when?</span></a></i>]</sup> overhead wires to avoid the electrocution hazards of a third rail.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The locomotives were fitted with a <a href="/wiki/Pantograph_(transport)" title="Pantograph (transport)">pantograph</a> as well as pick-up shoes. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Eurostar/High_Speed_1"><span id="Eurostar.2FHigh_Speed_1"></span>Eurostar/High Speed 1</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Eurostar/High Speed 1"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_373" title="British Rail Class 373">Class 373</a> used for international <a href="/wiki/High-speed_rail" title="High-speed rail">high-speed rail</a> services operated by <a href="/wiki/Eurostar" title="Eurostar">Eurostar</a> through the <a href="/wiki/Channel_Tunnel" title="Channel Tunnel">Channel Tunnel</a> runs on overhead wires at 25 kV AC for most of its journey, with sections of 3 kV DC on Belgian lines between the Belgian high-speed section and Brussels Midi station or 1.5 kV DC on the railway lines in the south of France for seasonal services. As originally delivered, the Class 373 units were additionally fitted with 750 V DC <a href="/wiki/Current_collector" title="Current collector">collection shoes</a>, designed for the journey in London via the suburban commuter lines to <a href="/wiki/London_Waterloo_railway_station" class="mw-redirect" title="London Waterloo railway station">Waterloo</a>. A switch between third-rail and overhead collection was performed while running at speed, initially at Continental Junction near Folkestone, and later on at Fawkham Junction after the opening of the first section of the <a href="/wiki/Channel_Tunnel_Rail_Link" class="mw-redirect" title="Channel Tunnel Rail Link">Channel Tunnel Rail Link</a>. Between <a href="/wiki/Kensington_Olympia_railway_station" class="mw-redirect" title="Kensington Olympia railway station">Kensington Olympia railway station</a> and <a href="/wiki/North_Pole_depot" class="mw-redirect" title="North Pole depot">North Pole depot</a>, further switchovers were necessary. </p><p>The dual-voltage system did cause some problems. Failure to retract the shoes when entering France caused severe damage to the trackside equipment, causing <a href="/wiki/SNCF" title="SNCF">SNCF</a> to install a pair of concrete blocks at the Calais end of both tunnels to break off the third rail shoes if they had not been retracted. An accident occurred in the UK when a Eurostar driver failed to retract the pantograph before entering the third-rail system, damaging a signal gantry and the pantograph. </p><p>On 14 November 2007, Eurostar's passenger operations were transferred to <a href="/wiki/St_Pancras_railway_station" title="St Pancras railway station">St Pancras railway station</a> and maintenance operations to <a href="/wiki/Temple_Mills" title="Temple Mills">Temple Mills</a> depot, making the 750 V DC third rail collection equipment redundant and the third rail shoes were removed. The trains themselves are no longer fitted with a speedometer capable of measuring the speed in <a href="/wiki/Miles_per_hour" title="Miles per hour">miles per hour</a> (the indication used to automatically change when the collector shoes were deployed). </p><p>In 2009, <a href="/wiki/Southeastern_(train_operating_company)" title="Southeastern (train operating company)">Southeastern</a> began operating domestic services over High Speed 1 trackage from St Pancras using its new <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_395" title="British Rail Class 395">Class 395</a> EMUs. These services operate on the High Speed line as far as <a href="/wiki/Ebbsfleet_International_railway_station" title="Ebbsfleet International railway station">Ebbsfleet International</a> or <a href="/wiki/Ashford_International_railway_station" title="Ashford International railway station">Ashford International</a>, before transferring to the main lines to serve north and mid Kent. As a consequence, these trains are dual-voltage enabled, as the majority of the routes along which they travel are third-rail electrified. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="North_London_Line">North London Line</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: North London Line"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/North_London_Line" class="mw-redirect" title="North London Line">North London Line</a></div> <p>In London, the <a href="/wiki/North_London_Line" class="mw-redirect" title="North London Line">North London Line</a> changes from third rail to overhead electrification between <a href="/wiki/Richmond_station_(London)" title="Richmond station (London)">Richmond</a> and <a href="/wiki/Stratford_station" title="Stratford station">Stratford</a> at <a href="/wiki/Acton_Central_railway_station" title="Acton Central railway station">Acton Central</a>. The entire route originally used third rail, but several technical electrical earthing problems, plus the fact that there are already overhead electric wires on part of the route for freight and <a href="/wiki/Regional_Eurostar" title="Regional Eurostar">Regional Eurostar</a> services, led to the change.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (January 2011)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="West_London_Line">West London Line</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: West London Line"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/West_London_Line" class="mw-redirect" title="West London Line">West London Line</a></div> <p>Also in London, the <a href="/wiki/West_London_Line" class="mw-redirect" title="West London Line">West London Line</a> changes power supply between <a href="/wiki/Shepherd%27s_Bush_railway_station" title="Shepherd's Bush railway station">Shepherd's Bush</a> and <a href="/wiki/Willesden_Junction" class="mw-redirect" title="Willesden Junction">Willesden Junction</a>, where it meets the North London Line. South of the changeover point, the WLL is third rail electrified, north of there, it is <a href="/wiki/Overhead_line" title="Overhead line">overhead</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Thameslink">Thameslink</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Thameslink"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Thameslink" title="Thameslink">Thameslink</a></div> <p>The cross-city <a href="/wiki/Thameslink_(route)" class="mw-redirect" title="Thameslink (route)">Thameslink</a> service runs on the Southern Region third rail network from Farringdon southwards and on overhead line northwards to <a href="/wiki/Bedford" title="Bedford">Bedford</a>, <a href="/wiki/Cambridge" title="Cambridge">Cambridge</a> and <a href="/wiki/Peterborough" title="Peterborough">Peterborough</a>. The changeover is made whilst stationary at <a href="/wiki/Farringdon_station" title="Farringdon station">Farringdon</a> when heading southbound, and at <a href="/wiki/City_Thameslink_station" class="mw-redirect" title="City Thameslink station">City Thameslink</a> when heading northbound. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Northern_City">Northern City</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: Northern City"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Northern_City_Line" title="Northern City Line">Northern City Line</a></div> <p>On the Moorgate to Hertford and Welwyn suburban service routes, the <a href="/wiki/East_Coast_Main_Line" title="East Coast Main Line">East Coast Main Line</a> sections are 25 kV AC, with a changeover to third rail made at <a href="/wiki/Drayton_Park_railway_station" title="Drayton Park railway station">Drayton Park railway station</a>. A third rail is still used in the tunnel section of the route, because the <a href="/wiki/Structure_gauge" title="Structure gauge">size</a> of the tunnels leading to <a href="/wiki/Moorgate_station" title="Moorgate station">Moorgate station</a> was too small to allow for overhead electrification. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="North_Downs_Line">North Downs Line</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: North Downs Line"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/North_Downs_Line" title="North Downs Line">North Downs Line</a></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:166206_at_Redhill.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/166206_at_Redhill.jpg/220px-166206_at_Redhill.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="146" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/166206_at_Redhill.jpg/330px-166206_at_Redhill.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/166206_at_Redhill.jpg/440px-166206_at_Redhill.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4288" data-file-height="2848" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Redhill_railway_station" title="Redhill railway station">Redhill</a> with the diesel <a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_166" title="British Rail Class 166">Class 166</a> service run by <a href="/wiki/First_Great_Western" class="mw-redirect" title="First Great Western">First Great Western</a> to <a href="/wiki/Reading_railway_station" title="Reading railway station">Reading</a> as the <a href="/wiki/North_Downs_Line" title="North Downs Line">North Downs Line</a> only has <a href="/wiki/Third_rail_electrification" class="mw-redirect" title="Third rail electrification">third rail electrification</a> on shared sections.</figcaption></figure> <p>The <a href="/wiki/North_Downs_Line" title="North Downs Line">North Downs Line</a> is not electrified on those parts of the line where the North Downs service has exclusive use. </p><p>The electrified portions of the line are: </p> <dl><dd><ul><li>Redhill to Reigate – Allows <a href="/wiki/Southern_(train_operating_company)" class="mw-redirect" title="Southern (train operating company)">Southern Railway</a> services to run to Reigate. This saves having to turn around terminating services at Redhill where due to the station layout, as the reversal would block nearly all the running lines.</li> <li>Shalford Junction to Aldershot South Junction – line shared with <a href="/wiki/South_Western_Railway_(train_operating_company)" class="mw-redirect" title="South Western Railway (train operating company)">South Western Railway</a> electric Portsmouth and Aldershot services.</li> <li>Wokingham to Reading – line shared with South Western Railway electric services from Waterloo.</li></ul></dd></dl> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Finland">Finland</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: Finland"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/Helsinki_Metro" title="Helsinki Metro">Helsinki Metro</a> uses a 750 V DC third-rail system.<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The section from <a href="/wiki/Vuosaari_metro_station" title="Vuosaari metro station">Vuosaari</a> to <a href="/wiki/Vuosaari_harbour" class="mw-redirect" title="Vuosaari harbour">Vuosaari harbour</a> is not electrified, as its only purpose is to connect to the Finnish rail network, whose gauge differs only by a couple of millimetres from that of the metro. The route has been previously used by diesel shunting locomotives moving new metro trains to the electrified section of the line. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="France">France</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: France"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The new <a href="/wiki/Trams_in_Bordeaux" class="mw-redirect" title="Trams in Bordeaux">tramway</a> in <a href="/wiki/Bordeaux" title="Bordeaux">Bordeaux</a> (France) uses a novel system with a third rail in the centre of the track. The third rail is separated into <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1154941027">.mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);clip-path:polygon(0px 0px,0px 0px,0px 0px);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}</style>10 m (32 ft <span class="frac">9<span class="sr-only">+</span><span class="num">3</span>⁄<span class="den">4</span></span> in) long conducting and <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1154941027">3 m (9 ft <span class="frac">10<span class="sr-only">+</span><span class="num">1</span>⁄<span class="den">8</span></span> in) long isolation segments. Each conducting segment is attached to an electronic circuit which will make the segment live once it lies fully beneath the tram (activated by a coded signal sent by the train) and switch it off before it becomes exposed again. This system (called <i><a href="/wiki/Alimentation_par_Sol" class="mw-redirect" title="Alimentation par Sol">Alimentation par Sol</a></i> (APS), meaning 'current supply via ground') is used in various locations around the city but especially in the historic centre: elsewhere the trams use the conventional <a href="/wiki/Overhead_lines" class="mw-redirect" title="Overhead lines">overhead lines</a> (see also <a href="/wiki/Ground-level_power_supply" title="Ground-level power supply">ground-level power supply</a>). In summer 2006 it was announced that two new French tram systems would be using APS over part of their networks. These will be <a href="/wiki/Angers_tramway" title="Angers tramway">Angers</a> and <a href="/wiki/Reims_tramway" title="Reims tramway">Reims</a>, with both systems expected to open around 2009–2010.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Dates_and_numbers#Chronological_items" title="Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers"><span title="The date of the event predicted near this tag has passed. (September 2023)">needs update</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p>The French <a href="/wiki/Culoz%E2%80%93Modane_railway" title="Culoz–Modane railway">Culoz–Modane railway</a> was electrified with 1500 V DC third rail, later converted to overhead wires at the same voltage. Stations had overhead wires from the beginning. </p><p>The French branch line which serves Chamonix and the Mont Blanc region (<a href="/wiki/Saint-Gervais%E2%80%93Vallorcine_railway" title="Saint-Gervais–Vallorcine railway">Saint-Gervais-le-Fayet to Vallorcine</a>) is third rail (top contact) and metre gauge. It continues in Switzerland, partly with the same third-rail system, partly with an overhead line. </p><p>The 63 km (39 mi) long <a href="/wiki/Ligne_de_Cerdagne" title="Ligne de Cerdagne">Train Jaune</a> line in the <a href="/wiki/Pyrenees" title="Pyrenees">Pyrenees</a> also features a third rail. </p><p>Many suburban lines that ran out of the <a href="/wiki/Paris_Saint_Lazare" class="mw-redirect" title="Paris Saint Lazare">Paris Saint Lazare</a> station used third-rail (bottom contact) feed. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Netherlands">Netherlands</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=23" title="Edit section: Netherlands"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1251242444"><table class="box-Unreferenced_section plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Unreferenced" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="39" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/75px-Question_book-new.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/100px-Question_book-new.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="399" /></a></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This section <b>does not <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">cite</a> any <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">sources</a></b>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> Please help <a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Third_rail" title="Special:EditPage/Third rail">improve this section</a> by <a href="/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners" title="Help:Referencing for beginners">adding citations to reliable sources</a>. Unsourced material may be challenged and <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Burden_of_evidence" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">removed</a>.</span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">September 2023</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>To mitigate investment costs, the <a href="/wiki/Rotterdam_Metro" title="Rotterdam Metro">Rotterdam Metro</a>, basically a third-rail-powered system, has been given some outlying branches built on surface tracks as <a href="/wiki/Light_rail" title="Light rail">light rail</a> (called <a href="/w/index.php?title=Sneltram&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Sneltram (page does not exist)">sneltram</a><span class="noprint" style="font-size:85%; font-style: normal;"> [<a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/sneltram" class="extiw" title="nl:sneltram">nl</a>]</span> in Dutch), with numerous level crossings protected with barriers and traffic lights. These branches have overhead wires. The <a href="/wiki/RandstadRail" title="RandstadRail">RandstadRail</a> project also requires Rotterdam Metro trains to run under wires along the former mainline railways to The Hague and Hook of Holland. </p><p>Similarly, in Amsterdam one <span title="Dutch-language text"><i lang="nl">sneltram</i></span> route went on <a href="/wiki/Amsterdam_Metro" title="Amsterdam Metro">Metro</a> tracks and passed to surface alignment in the suburbs, where it shared tracks with standard trams. In <a href="/wiki/Amsterdam" title="Amsterdam">Amsterdam</a>, the <span title="Dutch-language text"><i lang="nl">Sneltram</i></span> lightrail uses a third rail and switches to overhead wires when it moves onto the traditional tramway shared with <a href="/wiki/Trams_in_Amsterdam" title="Trams in Amsterdam">trams in Amsterdam</a>. Line 51 to <a href="/wiki/Amstelveen" title="Amstelveen">Amstelveen</a> ran metro service between <a href="/wiki/Amsterdam_Centraal_railway_station" class="mw-redirect" title="Amsterdam Centraal railway station">Amsterdam Centraal</a> and Station Zuid. At <a href="/wiki/Amsterdam_Zuid_railway_station" class="mw-redirect" title="Amsterdam Zuid railway station">Amsterdam Zuid</a> it switched from third rail to <a href="/wiki/Pantograph_(rail)" class="mw-redirect" title="Pantograph (rail)">pantograph</a> and <a href="/wiki/Overhead_line" title="Overhead line">catenary wires</a>. From there to <a href="/wiki/Amstelveen_Centrum_metro_station" class="mw-redirect" title="Amstelveen Centrum metro station">Amstelveen Centrum</a> it shared its tracks with tram line 5. The light rail vehicles on this line were capable of using both 600 V DC and 750 V DC. As of March 2019 this metro line has been decommissioned, partly because of issues regarding switching between third rail and overhead wires. Its line number 51 has been assigned to a new metro line running partly the same route from Amsterdam Central railway station to Station Zuid and then following the same route as metro line 50 to <a href="/wiki/Amsterdam_Sloterdijk_railway_station" class="mw-redirect" title="Amsterdam Sloterdijk railway station">Amsterdam Sloterdijk railway station</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="United_States">United States</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=24" title="Edit section: United States"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_the_United_States" class="mw-redirect" title="Railway electrification in the United States">Railway electrification in the United States</a></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:3rd_rail_to_overhead_wire_transition_zone_on_the_Skokie_Swift.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/3rd_rail_to_overhead_wire_transition_zone_on_the_Skokie_Swift.jpg/170px-3rd_rail_to_overhead_wire_transition_zone_on_the_Skokie_Swift.jpg" decoding="async" width="170" height="255" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/3rd_rail_to_overhead_wire_transition_zone_on_the_Skokie_Swift.jpg/255px-3rd_rail_to_overhead_wire_transition_zone_on_the_Skokie_Swift.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/3rd_rail_to_overhead_wire_transition_zone_on_the_Skokie_Swift.jpg/340px-3rd_rail_to_overhead_wire_transition_zone_on_the_Skokie_Swift.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2048" data-file-height="3072" /></a><figcaption>Third rail to overhead wire transition zone on the <a href="/wiki/Yellow_Line_(CTA)" title="Yellow Line (CTA)">Skokie Swift</a></figcaption></figure> <p>In New York City, the <a href="/wiki/New_Haven_Line" title="New Haven Line">New Haven Line</a> of <a href="/wiki/Metro%E2%80%93North_Railroad" class="mw-redirect" title="Metro–North Railroad">Metro–North Railroad</a> operates electric trains out of <a href="/wiki/Grand_Central_Terminal" title="Grand Central Terminal">Grand Central Terminal</a> that use third rail on the former <a href="/wiki/New_York_Central_Railroad" title="New York Central Railroad">New York Central Railroad</a> but switch to <a href="/wiki/Overhead_line" title="Overhead line">overhead lines</a> in <a href="/wiki/Pelham,_New_York" title="Pelham, New York">Pelham</a> to operate out onto the former <a href="/wiki/New_York,_New_Haven_and_Hartford_Railroad" title="New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad">New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad</a>. The switch is made "on the fly" (at speed), and controlled from the engineer's position. </p><p>The main two stations in New York City – Grand Central and <a href="/wiki/Pennsylvania_Station_(New_York_City)" class="mw-redirect" title="Pennsylvania Station (New York City)">Pennsylvania Station</a> – do not permit diesel locomotives to operate in their tunnels due to the health hazard from the exhaust. As such, diesel service on Metro-North, <a href="/wiki/Long_Island_Rail_Road" title="Long Island Rail Road">Long Island Rail Road</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Amtrak" title="Amtrak">Amtrak</a> use <a href="/wiki/Electro-diesel_locomotive" title="Electro-diesel locomotive">dual-mode/electro-diesel</a> locomotives (the <a href="/wiki/GE_Genesis" title="GE Genesis">P32AC-DM</a> and the <a href="/wiki/EMD_DE30AC_and_DM30AC" title="EMD DE30AC and DM30AC">DM30AC</a>) that are able to make use of the third-rail power in the stations and approaches. When under third rail operation, these locomotives are less powerful, so on open-air (non-tunnel) trackage the engines typically run in diesel mode, even where third-rail power is available.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (April 2020)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> <a href="/wiki/NJ_Transit_Rail_Operations" title="NJ Transit Rail Operations">New Jersey Transit</a> also makes use of <a href="/wiki/Bombardier_ALP-45DP" title="Bombardier ALP-45DP">ALP-45DP</a> dual mode locomotives for operation into Penn Station alongside their normal electric fleet. However, their dual mode locomotives make use of the overhead power supply instead, as it is available elsewhere on much of their network.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In New York City (on most of the <a href="/wiki/Manhattan" title="Manhattan">island of Manhattan</a>) and in Washington, D.C., local ordinances once required electrified <a href="/wiki/Street_railway" class="mw-redirect" title="Street railway">street railways</a> to draw current from a third rail and return the current to a fourth rail, both installed in a continuous vault underneath the street and accessed by means of a collector that passed through a slot between the running rails. When streetcars on such systems entered territory where overhead lines were allowed, they stopped over a pit where a man detached the collector (<i>plow</i>) and the <a href="/wiki/Motorman_(locomotive)" class="mw-redirect" title="Motorman (locomotive)">motorman</a> placed a <a href="/wiki/Trolley_pole" title="Trolley pole">trolley pole</a> on the overhead. In the US, all these conduit-feed powered systems have been discontinued, and either replaced or abandoned altogether.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (September 2023)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p>Some sections of the former London tram system also used the <a href="/wiki/Conduit_current_collection" title="Conduit current collection">conduit current collection</a> system, also with some tramcars that could collect power from both overhead and under-road sources. </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Blue_Line_(MBTA)" title="Blue Line (MBTA)">Blue Line</a> of <a href="/wiki/Boston,_Massachusetts" class="mw-redirect" title="Boston, Massachusetts">Boston's</a> <a href="/wiki/Massachusetts_Bay_Transportation_Authority" title="Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority">MBTA</a> uses third-rail electrification from the start of the line downtown to <a href="/wiki/Airport_(MBTA_station)" class="mw-redirect" title="Airport (MBTA station)">Airport</a> station, where it switches to overhead catenary for the remainder of the line to <a href="/wiki/Wonderland_station" title="Wonderland station">Wonderland station</a>. The outermost section of the Blue Line runs very close to the <a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Ocean" title="Atlantic Ocean">Atlantic Ocean</a>, and there were concerns about possible snow and ice buildup on a third rail so near to the water. Overhead catenary is not used in the underground section because of <a href="/wiki/Structure_gauge" title="Structure gauge">tight clearances</a> in the 1904 tunnel under Boston Harbor. The MBTA <a href="/wiki/Orange_Line_(MBTA)" title="Orange Line (MBTA)">Orange Line's</a> <a href="/wiki/Hawker_Siddeley" title="Hawker Siddeley">Hawker Siddeley</a> 01200 series rapid transit cars (essentially a longer version of the Blue Line's 0600s) recently<sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Dates_and_numbers#Chronological_items" title="Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers"><span title="The time period mentioned near this tag is ambiguous. (April 2020)">when?</span></a></i>]</sup> had their pantograph mounting points removed during a maintenance program; these mounts would have been used for pantographs which would have been installed had the Orange Line been extended north of its current terminus. </p><p>Dual power supply method was also used on some US <a href="/wiki/Interurban" title="Interurban">interurban</a> railways that made use of newer third rail in suburban areas, and existing overhead streetcar (trolley) infrastructure to reach downtown. For example, the <a href="/wiki/Chicago_%22L%22" title="Chicago "L"">Chicago "L"</a> <a href="/wiki/Yellow_Line_(CTA)" title="Yellow Line (CTA)">Yellow Line</a> (which uses tracks originally used by the <a href="/wiki/Chicago_North_Shore_and_Milwaukee_Railroad" title="Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad">North Shore Line</a>) used overhead wires on the western half of the route, which transitioned into third rail for the eastern half of the route. The entire line was converted to third rail in 2004 in order to reduce maintenance costs and allow better compatibility with rolling stock. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Simultaneous_use_with_overhead_wire">Simultaneous use with overhead wire</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=25" title="Edit section: Simultaneous use with overhead wire"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Dual_electrification" title="Dual electrification">Dual electrification</a></div> <p>A railway can be electrified with an <a href="/wiki/Overhead_wire" class="mw-redirect" title="Overhead wire">overhead wire</a> and a third rail at the same time. This was the case, for example, on the Hamburg S-Bahn between 1940 and 1955. A modern example is Birkenwerder Railway Station near Berlin, which has third rails on both sides and overhead wires. Most of the <a href="/wiki/Pennsylvania_Station_(New_York_City)" class="mw-redirect" title="Pennsylvania Station (New York City)">Penn Station</a> complex in New York City is also electrified with both systems.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (December 2022)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Non-standard_voltages">Non-standard voltages</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=26" title="Edit section: Non-standard voltages"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Some high third rail voltages (1000 volts and more) include: </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Hamburg_S-Bahn" title="Hamburg S-Bahn">Hamburg S-Bahn</a>: 1200 V, since 1940</li> <li><a href="/wiki/British_Rail_Class_504" title="British Rail Class 504">Manchester–Bury</a>, England: 1200 V (side contact) (Until <a href="/wiki/Manchester_Metrolink" title="Manchester Metrolink">Metrolink</a> conversion in 1991)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Culoz%E2%80%93Modane_railway" title="Culoz–Modane railway">Culoz–Modane railway</a>, France: 1500 V, 1925–1976</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Guangzhou_Metro" title="Guangzhou Metro">Guangzhou Metro</a> Lines <a href="/wiki/Line_4,_Guangzhou_Metro" class="mw-redirect" title="Line 4, Guangzhou Metro">4</a> and <a href="/wiki/Line_5,_Guangzhou_Metro" class="mw-redirect" title="Line 5, Guangzhou Metro">5</a>: 1500 V</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bay_Area_Rapid_Transit" title="Bay Area Rapid Transit">Bay Area Rapid Transit</a>, <a href="/wiki/San_Francisco" title="San Francisco">San Francisco</a>, 1000 V<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <p>In <a href="/wiki/Nazi_Germany" title="Nazi Germany">Nazi Germany</a>, a railway system with a <span class="nowrap">3,000 mm</span> (<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1154941027"><span class="nowrap">9 ft <span class="frac">10<span class="sr-only">+</span><span class="num">1</span>⁄<span class="den">8</span></span> in</span>) gauge width was planned. For this <i><a href="/wiki/Breitspurbahn" title="Breitspurbahn">Breitspurbahn</a></i> railway system, electrification with a voltage of 100 kV taken from a third rail was considered, in order to avoid damage to overhead wires from oversize rail-mounted anti-aircraft guns. However, such a power system would not have worked as it is not possible to insulate a third rail for such high voltages in close proximity to the rails. The whole project did not progress any further owing to the onset of World War II. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=27" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Arcing_pickup_shoe.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Arcing_pickup_shoe.jpg/220px-Arcing_pickup_shoe.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="158" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Arcing_pickup_shoe.jpg/330px-Arcing_pickup_shoe.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Arcing_pickup_shoe.jpg/440px-Arcing_pickup_shoe.jpg 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="573" /></a><figcaption>The <a href="/wiki/London_Underground" title="London Underground">London Underground</a> uses a four-rail system where both conductor rails are live relative to the running rails, and the positive rail has twice the voltage of the negative rail. <a href="/wiki/Electric_arc" title="Electric arc">Arcs</a> like this are normal and occur when the electric power collection shoes of a train that is drawing power reach the end of a section of conductor rail.</figcaption></figure> <p>Third-rail electrification systems are, apart from on-board batteries, the oldest means of supplying electric power to trains on railways using their own corridors, particularly in cities. Overhead power supply was initially almost exclusively used on tramway-like railways, though it also appeared slowly on mainline systems. </p><p>An experimental electric train using this method of power supply was developed by the German firm of <a href="/wiki/Siemens_AG" class="mw-redirect" title="Siemens AG">Siemens & Halske</a> and shown at the <a href="/wiki/Industrial_Exposition_of_Berlin" class="mw-redirect" title="Industrial Exposition of Berlin">Berlin Industrial Exposition of 1879</a>, with its third rail between the running rails. Some early electric railways used the running rails as the current conductor, as with the 1883-opened <a href="/wiki/Volk%27s_Electric_Railway" title="Volk's Electric Railway">Volk's Electric Railway</a> in Brighton. It was given an additional power rail in 1886, and is still operating. The <a href="/wiki/Giant%27s_Causeway_Tramway" title="Giant's Causeway Tramway">Giant's Causeway Tramway</a> followed, equipped with an elevated outside third rail in 1883, later converted to overhead wire. The first railway to use the central third rail was the <a href="/wiki/Bessbrook_and_Newry_Tramway" title="Bessbrook and Newry Tramway">Bessbrook and Newry Tramway</a> in Ireland, opened in 1885 but now, like the Giant's Causeway line, closed. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:ST_SN5000_20061102_001.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/ST_SN5000_20061102_001.jpg/220px-ST_SN5000_20061102_001.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/ST_SN5000_20061102_001.jpg/330px-ST_SN5000_20061102_001.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/ST_SN5000_20061102_001.jpg/440px-ST_SN5000_20061102_001.jpg 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Sapporo_Subway" class="mw-redirect" title="Sapporo Subway">Sapporo Subway</a> with a centrally placed guiding/return rail</figcaption></figure> <p>Also in the 1880s, third-rail systems began to be used in <a href="/wiki/Public_transport" title="Public transport">public urban transport</a>. Trams were first to benefit from it: they used conductors in conduit below the road surface (see <a href="/wiki/Conduit_current_collection" title="Conduit current collection">Conduit current collection</a>), usually on selected parts of the networks. This was first tried in Cleveland (1884) and in Denver (1885) and later spread to many big tram networks (e.g. New York; Chicago; Washington, DC; London; Paris, all of which are closed) and Berlin (the third-rail system in the city was abandoned in the early 20th century after heavy snowfall.) The system was tried in the beachside resort of <a href="/wiki/Blackpool" title="Blackpool">Blackpool</a>, UK, but was soon abandoned as sand and saltwater were found to enter the conduit and cause breakdowns, and there was a problem with <a href="/wiki/Voltage_drop" title="Voltage drop">voltage drop</a>. Some sections of tramway track still have the slot rails visible. </p><p>A third rail supplied power to the world's first electric underground railway, the <a href="/wiki/City_%26_South_London_Railway" class="mw-redirect" title="City & South London Railway">City & South London Railway</a>, which opened in 1890 (now part of the <a href="/wiki/Northern_line" title="Northern line">Northern line</a> of the London Underground). In 1893, the world's second third-rail powered city railway opened in Britain, the <a href="/wiki/Liverpool_Overhead_Railway" title="Liverpool Overhead Railway">Liverpool Overhead Railway</a> (closed 1956 and dismantled). The first US third-rail powered city railway in revenue use was the 1895 <a href="/wiki/Metropolitan_West_Side_Elevated" class="mw-redirect" title="Metropolitan West Side Elevated">Metropolitan West Side Elevated</a>, which soon became part of the <a href="/wiki/Chicago_%27L%27" class="mw-redirect" title="Chicago 'L'">Chicago 'L'</a>. In 1901, <a href="/wiki/Granville_Woods" title="Granville Woods">Granville Woods</a>, a prominent African-American inventor, was granted a <span><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://patents.google.com/patent/US687098">U.S. patent 687,098</a></span>, covering various proposed improvements to third-rail systems. This has been cited to claim that he invented the third-rail system of current distribution. However, by that time there had been numerous other patents for electrified third-rail systems, including <a href="/wiki/Thomas_Edison" title="Thomas Edison">Thomas Edison</a>'s <span><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://patents.google.com/patent/US263132">U.S. patent 263,132</a></span> of 1882, and third rails had been in successful use for over a decade, in installations including the rest of Chicago 'elevateds', as well as those used in <a href="/wiki/Brooklyn_Rapid_Transit_Company" title="Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company">Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company</a>, not to mention the development outside the US. </p><p>In <a href="/wiki/Paris" title="Paris">Paris</a>, a third rail appeared in 1900 in the main-line tunnel connecting the <a href="/wiki/Gare_d%27Orsay" title="Gare d'Orsay">Gare d'Orsay</a> to the rest of the CF Paris-Orléans network. Main-line third-rail electrification was later expanded to some suburban services. </p><p>The Woodford haulage system was used on <a href="/wiki/Industrial_tramway" class="mw-redirect" title="Industrial tramway">industrial tramways</a>, specifically in <a href="/wiki/Quarries" class="mw-redirect" title="Quarries">quarries</a> and <a href="/wiki/Strip_mine" class="mw-redirect" title="Strip mine">strip mines</a> in the early decades of the 20th century. This used a 250-volt center third rail to power remotely-controlled self-propelled <a href="/wiki/Side_dump_car" class="mw-redirect" title="Side dump car">side dump cars</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The remote control system was operated like a <a href="/wiki/Rail_transport_modelling#Control" title="Rail transport modelling">model railroad</a>, with the third rail divided into multiple blocks that could be set to power, coast, or brake by switches in the control center. </p><p>Top contact or gravity type third rail seems to be the oldest form of power collection. Railways pioneering in using less hazardous types of third rail were the <a href="/wiki/New_York_Central_Railroad" title="New York Central Railroad">New York Central Railroad</a> on the approach to <a href="/wiki/New_York_City" title="New York City">New York</a>'s <a href="/wiki/Grand_Central_Terminal" title="Grand Central Terminal">Grand Central Terminal</a> (1907 – another case of a third-rail mainline electrification), Philadelphia's <a href="/wiki/Market%E2%80%93Frankford_Line" title="Market–Frankford Line">Market–Frankford Line</a> (1907), and the <a href="/wiki/Hamburg_U-Bahn" title="Hamburg U-Bahn">Hochbahn in Hamburg</a> (1912) each had bottom contact rail, also known as the Wilgus-Sprague system.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, the Manchester-Bury Line of the <a href="/wiki/Lancashire_%26_Yorkshire_Railway" class="mw-redirect" title="Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway">Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway</a> tried side contact rail in 1917. These technologies appeared in wider use only at the turn of the 1920s and in the 1930s on, e.g., large-profile lines of the <a href="/wiki/Berlin_U-Bahn" title="Berlin U-Bahn">Berlin U-Bahn</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Berlin_S-Bahn" title="Berlin S-Bahn">Berlin S-Bahn</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Moscow_Metro" title="Moscow Metro">Moscow Metro</a>. The Hamburg S-Bahn has used a side contact third rail at 1200 V DC since 1939. </p><p>In 1956, the world's first rubber-tyred railway line, Line 11 of <a href="/wiki/Paris_Metro" class="mw-redirect" title="Paris Metro">Paris Metro</a>, opened. The conductor rail evolved into a pair of guiding rails required to keep the bogie in proper position on the new type of track. This solution was modified on the 1971 Namboku Line of <a href="/wiki/Sapporo_Subway" class="mw-redirect" title="Sapporo Subway">Sapporo Subway</a>, where a centrally placed guiding/return rail was used plus one power rail placed laterally as on conventional railways. </p><p>In 2004, the third-rail technology at street tram lines was in the <a href="/wiki/Tramway_de_Bordeaux" class="mw-redirect" title="Tramway de Bordeaux">new system of Bordeaux</a> (2004). This is a completely new technology (see below). </p><p>Third-rail systems are not considered obsolete.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (December 2022)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> There are, however, countries (particularly <a href="/wiki/Japan" title="Japan">Japan</a>, <a href="/wiki/South_Korea" title="South Korea">South Korea</a>, <a href="/wiki/Spain" title="Spain">Spain</a>) more eager to adopt <a href="/wiki/Pantograph_(rail)" class="mw-redirect" title="Pantograph (rail)">overhead wiring</a> for their urban railways. But at the same time, there were (and still are) many new third-rail systems built elsewhere, including technologically advanced countries (e.g. <a href="/wiki/Copenhagen_Metro" title="Copenhagen Metro">Copenhagen Metro</a>, <a href="/wiki/Taipei_Metro" title="Taipei Metro">Taipei Metro</a>, <a href="/wiki/Wuhan_Metro" title="Wuhan Metro">Wuhan Metro</a>). Bottom-powered railways (it may be too specific to use the term <i>third-rail</i>) are also usually used with systems having rubber-tyred trains, whether it is a heavy metro (except two other lines of <a href="/wiki/Sapporo_Subway" class="mw-redirect" title="Sapporo Subway">Sapporo Subway</a>) or a small capacity <a href="/wiki/People_mover" title="People mover">people mover</a> (PM). New electrified railway systems tend to use overhead for regional and long-distance systems. Third-rail systems using lower voltages than overhead systems still require many more supply points. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Model_railways">Model railways</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=28" title="Edit section: Model railways"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1251242444"><table class="box-Unreferenced_section plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Unreferenced" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="39" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/75px-Question_book-new.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/100px-Question_book-new.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="399" /></a></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This section <b>does not <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">cite</a> any <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">sources</a></b>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> Please help <a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Third_rail" title="Special:EditPage/Third rail">improve this section</a> by <a href="/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners" title="Help:Referencing for beginners">adding citations to reliable sources</a>. Unsourced material may be challenged and <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Burden_of_evidence" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">removed</a>.</span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">June 2021</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Third_rail_(model_rail)" title="Third rail (model rail)">Third rail (model rail)</a></div> <p>In 1906, the <a href="/wiki/Lionel_Corp." class="mw-redirect" title="Lionel Corp.">Lionel</a> electric trains became the first model trains to use a <a href="/wiki/Third_rail_(model_railroading)" class="mw-redirect" title="Third rail (model railroading)">third rail</a> to power the locomotive. Lionel track uses a third rail in the center, while the two outer rails are electrically connected together. This solved the problem two-rail model trains have when the track is arranged to loop back on itself, as ordinarily this causes a short circuit. (Even if the loop was gapped, the locomotive would create a short and stop as it crossed the gaps.) Lionel electric trains also operate on alternating current. The use of alternating current means that a Lionel locomotive cannot be reversed by changing polarity; instead, the locomotive sequences among several states (forward, neutral, backward, for example) each time it is started. </p><p>Märklin three-rail trains use a short pulse at a higher voltage than is used for powering the train, to reverse a relay within the locomotive. Märklin's track does not have an actual third rail; instead, a series of short pins provide the current, taken up by a long "shoe" under the engine. This shoe is long enough to always be in contact with several pins. This is known as the <a href="/wiki/Stud_contact_system" title="Stud contact system">stud contact system</a> and has certain advantages when used on outdoor model railway systems. The <a href="/wiki/Ski_collector" class="mw-redirect" title="Ski collector">ski collector</a> rubs over the studs and thus inherently self cleans. When both track rails are used for the return in parallel there is much less chance of current interruption due to dirt on the line. </p><p>Many model train sets today use only two rails, usually associated with Z, N, HO or G-Gauge systems. These are typically powered by direct current (DC) where the voltage and polarity of the current controls the speed and direction of the DC motor in the train. A growing exception is <a href="/wiki/Digital_Command_Control" title="Digital Command Control">Digital Command Control</a> (DCC), where bi-polar DC is delivered to the rails at a constant voltage, along with digital signals that are decoded within the locomotive. The bi-polar DC carries digital information to indicate the command and the locomotive that is being commanded, even when multiple locomotives are present on the same track. The aforementioned Lionel O-Gauge system remains popular today as well with its three rail track and AC power implementation. </p><p>Some model railroads realistically mimic the third rail configurations of their full-sized counterparts although nearly all do not draw power from the third rail. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=29" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1184024115">.mw-parser-output .div-col{margin-top:0.3em;column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .div-col-small{font-size:90%}.mw-parser-output .div-col-rules{column-rule:1px solid #aaa}.mw-parser-output .div-col dl,.mw-parser-output .div-col ol,.mw-parser-output .div-col ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .div-col li,.mw-parser-output .div-col dd{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}</style><div class="div-col" style="column-width: 23em;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Conduit_current_collection" title="Conduit current collection">Conduit current collection</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Contact_shoe" class="mw-redirect" title="Contact shoe">Contact shoe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fourth_rail" class="mw-redirect" title="Fourth rail">Fourth rail</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ground-level_power_supply" title="Ground-level power supply">Ground-level power supply</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Guide_bar" title="Guide bar">Guide bar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electrification_of_the_New_York,_New_Haven,_and_Hartford_Railroad#Initial_Electrification_Experiments" class="mw-redirect" title="Electrification of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad">Initial Electrification Experiments NY NH HR</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Insulator_(electricity)" title="Insulator (electricity)">Insulator (electricity)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Linear_motor" title="Linear motor">Linear motor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_railway_electrification_systems" title="List of railway electrification systems">List of railway electrification systems</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_rail_transport_systems_using_third_rail" title="List of rail transport systems using third rail">List of rail transport systems using third rail</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_suburban_and_commuter_rail_systems" title="List of suburban and commuter rail systems">List of suburban and commuter rail systems</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Online_Electric_Vehicle" class="mw-redirect" title="Online Electric Vehicle">Online Electric Vehicle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Overhead_conductor_rail" class="mw-redirect" title="Overhead conductor rail">Overhead conductor rails</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_Great_Britain" title="Railway electrification in Great Britain">Railway electrification in Great Britain</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rubber-tyred_metro" title="Rubber-tyred metro">Rubber-tyred metro</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stud_contact_system" title="Stud contact system">Stud contact system</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Third_rail_(model_rail)" title="Third rail (model rail)">Third rail (model rail)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Light_rail#Third-rail_power_for_trams" title="Light rail">Third-rail power for trams</a><sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/MOS:BROKENSECTIONLINKS" class="mw-redirect" title="MOS:BROKENSECTIONLINKS"><span title="The anchor (Third-rail power for trams) has been deleted. (2024-07-22)">broken anchor</span></a></i>]</sup></li></ul> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=30" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-groundlevelpowersupply-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-groundlevelpowersupply_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-groundlevelpowersupply_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFChristeller2020" class="citation magazine cs1">Christeller, Reinhard (17 June 2020). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.urban-transport-magazine.com/en/innovative-power-supply-technologies-for-traction-systems-in-public-transport/">"Innovative power supply technologies for traction systems in public transport"</a>. <i>Urban Transport</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">5 September</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=www.railway-technology.com&rft.atitle=NJ+Transit+in+US+initiates+testing+of+dual-power+locomotives&rft.date=2021-04-07&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railway-technology.com%2Fnews%2Fnj-transit-testing-dual-power-locomotives%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AThird+rail" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bart.gov/about/history/facts">System Facts</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.bart.gov/about/history/cars.aspx">"BART – Car Types"</a>. Bay Area Rapid Transit<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">23 August</span> 2009</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=BART+%E2%80%93+Car+Types&rft.pub=Bay+Area+Rapid+Transit&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bart.gov%2Fabout%2Fhistory%2Fcars.aspx&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AThird+rail" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">F. E. Woodford, An Electric Haulage System: Controlling Cars at a Distance From a Central Station, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nature.com/scientificamerican/journal/v82/n2115supp/pdf/scientificamerican07151916-40supp.pdf">Scientific American Supplement, No. 2115</a>, 15 July 1916; page 40.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">An Electrically-Operated Quarry and Plant for Production of Broken Stone at Gary, Ill., <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=b-k1AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA421">Engineering News, Vol. 62, No. 17</a>; 21 Oct. 1909; page 421-428.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFCudahy2003" class="citation book cs1">Cudahy, Brian J. (2003). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_Century_of_Subways/fJGUDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover"><i>A Century of Subways: Celebrating 100 Years of New York's Underground Railways</i></a>. New York: <a href="/wiki/Fordham_University_Press" title="Fordham University Press">Fordham University Press</a>. p. 202. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780823222957" title="Special:BookSources/9780823222957"><bdi>9780823222957</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=A+Century+of+Subways%3A+Celebrating+100+Years+of+New+York%27s+Underground+Railways&rft.place=New+York&rft.pages=202&rft.pub=Fordham+University+Press&rft.date=2003&rft.isbn=9780823222957&rft.aulast=Cudahy&rft.aufirst=Brian+J.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fbooks%2Fedition%2FA_Century_of_Subways%2FfJGUDwAAQBAJ%3Fhl%3Den%26gbpv%3D1%26printsec%3Dfrontcover&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AThird+rail" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Third_rail&action=edit&section=31" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1235681985">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #aaa;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em;background-color:var(--background-color-interactive-subtle,#f8f9fa);display:flow-root}.mw-parser-output .side-box-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{padding:0.25em 0.9em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-image{padding:2px 0 2px 0.9em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-imageright{padding:2px 0.9em 2px 0;text-align:center}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .side-box-flex{display:flex;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{flex:1;min-width:0}}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .side-box{width:238px}.mw-parser-output .side-box-right{clear:right;float:right;margin-left:1em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-left{margin-right:1em}}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1237033735">@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox{display:none!important}}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}</style><div class="side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style> <div class="side-box-flex"> <div class="side-box-image"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="30" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/45px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/59px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376" /></span></span></div> <div class="side-box-text plainlist">Wikimedia Commons has media related to <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Third_rail" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Third rail">Third rail</a></span>.</div></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1235681985"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237033735"><div class="side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1126788409"> <div class="side-box-flex"> <div class="side-box-image"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/40px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png" decoding="async" width="40" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/60px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/80px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="512" /></span></span></div> <div class="side-box-text plainlist">Look up <i><b><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Special:Search/third_rail" class="extiw" title="wiktionary:Special:Search/third rail">third rail</a></b></i> in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.</div></div> </div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://patimg1.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=00263132&PageNum=2&idkey=NONE">Thomas Edison's third rail patent (1882)</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://trb.org/publications/circulars/ec058/15_02_Swanson.pdf">Lightrail without wires</a> – Paper on Bordeaux' new Tram with street level third rail (by the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies)</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://clag.org.uk/3rd-4th.html">Details</a> of the UK 3rd/4th rail design.</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://sonic.net/~mly/Caltrain-Electrification/1992-report-400dpi/e75-095.html">Morrison-Knudsen 1992</a></li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist 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href="/wiki/Bow_collector" title="Bow collector">Bow collector</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pantograph_(transport)" title="Pantograph (transport)">Pantograph</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Trolley_pole" title="Trolley pole">Trolley pole</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Current_collector#Contact_shoe" title="Current collector">Contact shoe</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Power delivery</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification" title="Railway electrification">Railway electrification</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Overhead_line" title="Overhead line">Overhead line</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Third rail</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification#Fourth_rail" title="Railway electrification">Fourth rail</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ground-level_power_supply" title="Ground-level power supply">Ground-level power supply</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Stud_contact_system" title="Stud contact system">Stud contact system</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Conduit_current_collection" title="Conduit current collection">Conduit current collection</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Rolling_stock" title="Rolling stock">Rolling stock</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electric_traction" title="Railway electric traction">Railway electric traction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Power_car" title="Power car">Power car</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electric_locomotive" title="Electric locomotive">Electric locomotive</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electric_multiple_unit" title="Electric multiple unit">Electric multiple unit</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electro-diesel_locomotive" title="Electro-diesel locomotive">Electro-diesel locomotive</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electro-diesel_multiple_unit" title="Electro-diesel multiple unit">Electro-diesel multiple unit</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Multi-system_(rail)" title="Multi-system (rail)">Multi-system</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rubber-tyred_metro" title="Rubber-tyred metro">Rubber-tyred metro</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Power network</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Traction_power_network" title="Traction power network">Traction power network</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Traction_substation" title="Traction substation">Traction substation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Traction_powerstation" title="Traction powerstation">Traction powerstation</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">By country</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_Australia" title="Railway electrification in Australia">Australia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_installations_for_15_kV_AC_railway_electrification_in_Germany,_Austria_and_Switzerland#Austria" title="List of installations for 15 kV AC railway electrification in Germany, Austria and Switzerland">Austria</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_the_Soviet_Union#Estonia" title="Railway electrification in the Soviet Union">Estonia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_France" title="Railway electrification in France">France</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_installations_for_15_kV_AC_railway_electrification_in_Germany,_Austria_and_Switzerland#Germany" title="List of installations for 15 kV AC railway electrification in Germany, Austria and Switzerland">Germany</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Central_Organisation_for_Railway_Electrification" title="Central Organisation for Railway Electrification">India</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_Iran" title="Railway electrification in Iran">Iran</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_Japan" title="Railway electrification in Japan">Japan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_the_Soviet_Union#Latvia" title="Railway electrification in the Soviet Union">Latvia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_the_Soviet_Union#Lithuania" title="Railway electrification in the Soviet Union">Lithuania</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_Malaysia" title="Railway electrification in Malaysia">Malaysia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_New_Zealand" title="Railway electrification in New Zealand">New Zealand</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_Norway" title="Railway electrification in Norway">Norway</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Timeline_of_railway_electrification_in_Norway" title="Timeline of railway electrification in Norway">timeline</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_Poland" title="Railway electrification in Poland">Poland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_the_Soviet_Union#Russia" title="Railway electrification in the Soviet Union">Russia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_the_Soviet_Union" title="Railway electrification in the Soviet Union">Former USSR</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_installations_for_15_kV_AC_railway_electrification_in_Sweden" title="List of installations for 15 kV AC railway electrification in Sweden">Sweden</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_installations_for_15_kV_AC_railway_electrification_in_Germany,_Austria_and_Switzerland#Switzerland" title="List of installations for 15 kV AC railway electrification in Germany, Austria and Switzerland">Switzerland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_Turkey" class="mw-redirect" title="Railway electrification in Turkey">Turkey</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_the_Soviet_Union#Ukraine" title="Railway electrification in the Soviet Union">Ukraine</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railway_electrification_in_Great_Britain" title="Railway electrification in Great Britain">United Kingdom</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railroad_electrification_in_the_United_States" title="Railroad electrification in the United States">United States</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Lists</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_railway_electrification_systems" title="List of railway electrification systems">Railway electrification systems</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_tram_systems_by_gauge_and_electrification" title="List of tram 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