Electrifying Stories
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Railways | Electrification Electrifying stories Electrification of the world’s railways is more complex than passengers know. Behind every journey lies a story. 4 I Mott MacDonald I Electrifying stories Electrifying stories I Mott MacDonald I 5 Pantograph and contact wire Taiwan high speed rail Bright sparks behind electrification Railways around the world Electric trains are now To add to the complexities, Our multidisciplinary teams of rail engineers are cheaper to operate, third rail systems are used working around the world tackling every aspect have come a long way since easier to maintain and in a variety of voltages of railway electrification. Their unique solutions the Greeks invented the Diolkos are generally more reliable – 600V DC in Tokyo, range from voltage upgrades and discontinuous than diesel trains, which 850V DC in Moscow, electrification (short sections without power) paved limestone trackway, which largely replaced steam. 1.2kV DC in Berlin and to AC/DC changeover integration. was used to transport boats Electric trains are also 1.5kV DC in Guangzhou more environmentally as well as the more Clearances between live wires or rails and other across the Isthmus of Corinth sustainable and capable common 750V DC. objects or people are a major issue, particularly around 600 BC. Wooden railways of greater acceleration Overhead line supply when retrospectively electrifying legacy railways. performance resulting voltages vary too, from Meanwhile, protecting sensitive equipment in in the 16th century gave way to in shorter journey time 1.5kV DC and 3kV DC, buildings neighbouring a railway from electromagnetic steel as steam engines became for passengers. through 15kV AC to interference presents its own complexities. the more widely used the norm, dominating the world’s However, there is no 25kV AC. Pressure on operators to tackle climate change railways until the mid-20th century. standard electrification and improve sustainability requires new solutions system. From New York to powering railways. These include on-board to London, Melbourne to energy storage combined with discontinuous Japan, differing systems electrification, wayside energy storage, reversible have evolved. Third rail, DC substations, hybrid conductor rail, and high fourth rail, and overhead annealing temperature alloy for overhead contact lines have all undergone wires. New ways of getting power from the grid to their own evolutions and the railway is also a challenge. – despite commendable steps to harmonise Running the railway is more than just rolling stock, systems – engineers face stations and passengers. Powering the system complex challenges when presents multiple complexities for engineers to renewing or upgrading tackle. Here are just some of our electrifying stories. existing infrastructure. 6 I Mott MacDonald I Electrifying stories Electrifying stories I Mott MacDonald I 7 Bridge on the Ordsall Chord, part of the GNRP ®MatthewNicholPhotography Cutting journey times goes down to the wire With rolling stock in the north of Electrification would drawn from different allow electric trains to run substations interacting. England coming to the end of on the route, which are Identifying these locations, its life, coupled with the need to faster, quieter, cheaper to helped maintain design operate and less polluting momentum on our improve journey times on the than diesel trains. project without affecting 41km route between Manchester the interconnecting Designs for overhead line projects. With Network and Preston, in the north of electrification systems are Rail engineers working England, there was an opportunity generally set out on an on MFD in our offices, engineering drawing called lines of communication to make some significant changes. a major feeding diagram were clear and constant. (MFD). This shows the substations where current Our approach also will be drawn from and involved strategically the distances it needs to identifying where points travel. MFDs can undergo should be located, so many changes over that sections of track the course of a project, could be switched particularly when there off for maintenance, are interconnecting while key routes projects, such as on remained operational. the Great North Rail Project (GNRP). We also proposed an auto-transformer system By being flexible and on the route. This proactive, we identified balanced current flowing where changes in the in the overhead line MFD might occur and with that returning via planned how best to the track to help control accommodate them. We voltage in the overhead also suggested where to line equipment (OLE) locate the neutral sections, system, helping it function which prevent the current more efficiently. Electrifying stories I Mott MacDonald I 9 Out with the old: New York’s subway challenge New York City Transit An investigation into the TRAIN models the The proposed upgrades (NYCT) is the agency traction power system was behaviour of traction will be a once in a lifetime that operates public required to confirm the system parameters by opportunity to align the transportation in the power upgrades to support determining details of traction power network Big Apple. The city’s additional services. system performance with international subway is presently and thus confirming the standards, and we are undergoing a major NYCT commissioned suitability of a particular investigating how to move upgrade with the consultancy Henningson design. The simulator has the system from 625V introduction of Durham Richardson (HDR) been validated for to 750V DC. This will communications-based to perform the traction accuracy on London enable use of standard train control (CBTC) power system study and to Underground and has kit throughout, giving signalling and new make recommendation for been used in many transit access to a vastly more rolling stock. CBTC power upgrade. We are systems throughout North diverse supply chain and signalling is an advanced part of the HDR team and America and around the all the cost and supply automatic train control are using our proprietary world. The simulations for benefits that this brings. system that allows more simulation software known the NYCT will be centred frequent services. as TRAIN to analyse on four main routes – the NYCT’s traction power Lexington Avenue Line, electrification system. Eastern Parkway Line, 7th Avenue Line and Astoria Line. The A$11bn Metro Tunnel will free up Melbourne’s Untangling biggest rail bottleneck by running three of the city’s busiest train lines through twin 9km tunnels, Melbourne’s creating space for more trains to run more often across the network. City Loop The Aurecon, Jacobs and Mott MacDonald Joint Venture (AJM JV) was appointed as technical, planning and engagement advisor by Rail Projects Victoria in 2014. AJM JV is providing the full range of project support services, from feasibility to delivery. Featuring communications-based train control technology and platform screen doors at five new underground stations, Metro Tunnel will reshape travel demand, allowing for future extensions to Melbourne’s tram and rail network as the city grows. The project will increase the capacity, reliability and efficiency of the network to cater for 39,000 more passengers during peak periods. Major works on the Metro Tunnel are now underway with the project on track to be completed by 2025. 10 I Mott MacDonald I Electrifying stories Electrifying stories I Mott MacDonald I 11 A class 700 Thameslink train AC/DC: the breakthrough The UK-government- as the Bermondsey sponsored Thameslink dive-under and untangles Programme, which is the tracks approaching transforming north-south London Bridge station. travel through London, is Importantly, Thameslink set to move into its final has introduced the new phase following major Class 700 train, which engineering works. is set to transform Network Rail virtually operations, but which rebuilt London Bridge has thrown up a variety station and the of engineering issues, surrounding railway as not least the need to it moved to become the operate on 25kV AC first mainline railway in north of the capital and the UK to introduce 750 DC to the south. automatic train operation All this has required a (ATO) from 2018. wide range of engineering capabilities within Network The programme, one Rail, Thameslink and of the largest civil its partners. engineering projects in Britain, and has called We are working on the “We are supporting for collaborative working, project across a range which has brought of disciplines, including the central innovation and efficiencies. systems engineering, engineering electro-magnetic The challenges have compatibility, surveying, function because been enormous, and ergonomics and human we’re flexible included major factors, and GIS. Our remodelling of Farringdon engineers are working and we have and Blackfriars as well on rail adhesion for ATO, engineering as the redevelopment of which is crucial to London Bridge, and the operating the planned resource and building of a grade 24 trains every hour skills across all separated junction at through the central London Bermondsey. This known ‘core’ during peak periods. the disciplines.” Robert Gray, Divisional director, Mott MacDonald 12 I Mott MacDonald I Electrifying stories Electrifying stories I Mott MacDonald I 13 Mind the gap Goschenen station The task of fitting electrification Engineers increasingly resort to discontinuous Natural gaps in the OLE wiring, such as where Where discontinuous electrification is