Rail Infrastructure Electrification

Electrification has many advantages over alternative forms of traction, but it requires significant capital expenditure for installation. This course will examine the business case for electrification over diesel traction, and the differences between various AC/DC systems.

It is important to understand the significance of electrification in terms of an overall rail project, its role, influence and the changes that are/have to be made to ensure it’s a worthwhile investment.

Requirements, constraints and considerations of an electrified railway from a project management perspective will be discussed. The planning, designing, constructing, operating and maintaining factors will be systematically discussed.

Case studies will be looked at throughout the course to help participants apply theory to practice – drawing from Roy’s vast international experience working on numerous electrification projects.

The course will spend time on electrification system design considerations such as environmental/aesthetic factors, system choice (AC/DC/ overhead, 3rd rail), train requirements, materials, voltage systems, traction distribution, earthing, bonding, network effects, testing and commissioning. It will also look at operational factors, such as train frequency, required performance, emergency/safety procedures and constructing and maintaining electric railways – the requirements and constraints.