15 kV AC railway electrification

Railway electrification systems using alternating current (AC) at 15 kilovolts (kV) and 16.7 Hertz (Hz) are used on transport railways in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, and Norway. The high voltage enables high power transmission with the lower frequency reducing the losses of the traction motors that were available at the beginning of the 20th century. Railway electrification in late 20th century tends to use 25 kV, 50 Hz AC systems which has become the preferred standard for new railway electrifications but extensions of the existing 15 kV networks are not completely unlikely. In particular, the Gotthard Base Tunnel (opened on 1 June 2016) still uses 15 kV, 16.7 Hz electrification.

A pylon of a single phase AC 110 kV-powerline near Bartholomä in Germany. Lines of these type are used in Germany to supply electric railways with single phase AC at 16.7 hertz. In the substations of the railway, transformers are used to step it down to 15 kV.

Due to high conversion costs, it is unlikely that existing 15 kV, 16.7 Hz systems will be converted to 25 kV, 50 Hz despite the fact that this would reduce the weight of the on-board step-down transformers to one third that of the present devices.

History

The first electrified railways used series-wound DC motors, first at 600 V and then 1,500 V. Areas with 3 kV DC catenaries (primarily in Eastern Europe) used two 1,500 V DC motors in series. But even at 3 kV, the current needed to power a heavy train (particularly in rural and mountainous areas) can be excessive. Although increasing the transmission voltage decreases the current and associated resistive losses for a given power, insulation limits make higher voltage traction motors impractical. Transformers on each locomotive are thus required to step high transmission voltages down to practical motor operating voltages. Before the development of suitable ways to efficiently transform DC currents through power electronics, efficient transformers strictly required alternating current (AC); thus high voltage electrified railways adopted AC along with the electric power distribution system (see War of the currents).

The 50 Hz (60 Hz in North America) AC grid was already established at the beginning of the 20th century. Although series-wound motors can in principle run on AC as well as DC (the reason they are also known as universal motors) large series-wound traction motors had problems with such high frequencies. High inductive reactance of the motor windings caused commutator flashover problems and the non-laminated magnetic pole-pieces originally designed for DC exhibited excessive eddy current losses. Using a lower AC frequency alleviated both problems.

In the German-speaking countries, high-voltage electrification began at ​16 ²⁄₃ hertz, exactly one third of the national power grid frequency of 50 Hz. This facilitated the operation of rotary converters from the grid frequency and allowed dedicated railway power generators to operate at the same shaft speed as a standard 50 Hz generator by reducing the number of pole pairs by a factor of three. For example, a generator turning at 1,000 rpm would be wound with two pole pairs rather than six.

Separate plants supply railway power in Austria, Switzerland and Germany, except for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Saxony-Anhalt; converters powered by the grid supply railway power in those two German states plus Sweden and Norway. Norway also has two hydro-electric power plants dedicated for railway power with ​16 ²⁄₃ hertz output.

The first generators were synchronous AC generators or synchronous transformers; however, with the introduction of modern double fed induction generators, the control current induced an undesired DC component, leading to pole overheating problems. This was solved by shifting the frequency slightly away from exactly ⅓ the grid frequency; 16.7 hertz was arbitrarily chosen to remain within the tolerance of existing traction motors. Austria, Switzerland and Southern Germany switched their power plants to 16.7 Hz on 16 October 1995 at 12:00 CET.[1][2] Note that regional electrified sections run by synchronous generators keep their frequency of ​16 ²⁄₃ Hz just as Sweden and Norway still run their railway networks at ​16 ²⁄₃ Hz throughout.

One of the disadvantages of 16.7 Hz locomotives as compared to 50 Hz or 60 Hz locomotives is the heavier transformer required to reduce the overhead line voltage to that used by the motors and their speed control gear. Low frequency transformers need to have heavier magnetic cores and larger windings for the same level of power conversion. (See effect of frequency on the design of transformers.) The heavier transformers also lead to higher axle loads than for those of a higher frequency. This, in turn, leads to increased track wear and increases the need for more frequent track maintenance. The Czech Railways encountered the problem of the reduced power handling of lower frequency transformers when they rebuilt some 25 kV AC, 50 Hz locomotives (series 340) to operate on 15 kV AC, 16.7 Hz lines. As a result of using the same transformer cores (originally designed for 50 Hz) at the lower frequency, the transformers had to be de-rated to one third of their original power handling capability, thereby reducing the available tractive effort by the same amount (to around 1,000 kW).

These drawbacks, plus the need for a separate supply infrastructure and the lack of any technical advantages with modern motors and controllers has limited the use of ​16 ²⁄₃ Hz and 16.7 Hz beyond the original five countries. Most other countries electrified their railways at the utility frequency of 50/60 Hz. Newer European electrification is mostly 25 kV AC at 50 Hz (primarily in Eastern Europe). Conversion to this voltage/frequency requires higher voltage insulators and greater clearance between lines and bridges and other structures. This is now standard for new overhead lines as well as for modernizing old installations.

Simple European standardization with an alignment of voltage/frequency across Europe is not necessarily cost-effective since trans-border traction is more limited by the differing national standards in other areas. To equip an electric locomotive with a transformer for two or more input voltages is cheap compared to the cost of installing multiple train protection systems and to run them through the approval procedure to get access to the railway network in other countries. However, some new high-speed lines to neighbouring countries are already intended to be built to 25 kV (e.g. in Austria to Eastern Europe). Newer locomotives are always built with asynchronous motor control systems that have no problem with a range of input frequencies including DC. However the Deutsche Bahn train operator does still use older models from the standard electric locomotive series - even though some are now as much as 50 years old. As soon as these obsolescent models are decommissioned, it will be easier to standardise, but this may take a few decades to happen. Meanwhile, the Deutsche Bahn tends to order train sets that are capable of running multiple electrification systems.

Distribution networks

single-phase (two-wire) lines coming out of a converter plant

Main article: Electric power transmission

In Germany (except Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Saxony-Anhalt), Austria and Switzerland, there is a separate single-phase power distribution grid for railway power at 16.7 Hz; the voltage is 110 kV in Germany and Austria and 132 kV in Switzerland. This system is called the centralized railway energy supply. A separate single-phase power distribution grid makes the recuperation of energy during braking extremely easy in comparison with 25 kV 50 Hz system tied to 3 phase distribution grid.

In Sweden, Norway, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Saxony-Anhalt, the power is taken directly from the three-phase grid (110 kV at 50 Hz), converted to low frequency single phase and fed into the overhead line. This system is called the decentralized (i.e. local) railway energy supply.

Generation and conversion

The centralized system is supplied by special power plants that generate 110 kV (or 132 kV in the Swiss system) AC at 16.7 Hz and by rotary converters or AC/AC converters that are supplied from the national power grid (e.g. 110 kV, 50 Hz), they convert it to 55-0-55 kV (or 66-0-66 kV) AC at 16.7 Hz. The 0 V point is connected to earth through an inductance so that each conductor of the single phase AC power line has a voltage of 55 kV (or 66 kV) with respect to earth potential. This is similar to split-phase electric power systems and results in a balanced line transmission. The inductance through which the earthing is done is designed to limit earth currents in cases of faults on the line. At the transformer substations, the voltage is transformed from 110 kV (or 132 kV) AC to 15 kV AC and the energy is fed into the overhead line.

Asynchronous converters

The frequency of 16.7 Hz depends on the necessity to avoid synchronism in parts of the rotary machine, which consists principally of a three phase asynchronous motor and a single phase synchronous generator. Since synchronism sets in at a frequency of ​16 ²⁄₃ Hz (according to the technical details) in the single phase system, the frequency of the centralized system was set to 16.7 Hz.

Power plants providing 110 kV, 16.7 Hz, are either dedicated to generating this specific single phase AC or have special generators for the purpose, such as the Neckarwestheim nuclear power plant or the Walchensee hydroelectric power station.

Synchronous converters

The power for the decentralized system is taken directly from the national power grid and directly transformed and converted into 15 kV, ​16 ²⁄₃ Hz by synchronous-synchronous-converters or static converters. Both systems need additional transformers. The converters consist of a three-phase synchronous motor and a single-phase synchronous generator. The decentralized system in the north-east of Germany was established by the Deutsche Reichsbahn in the 1980s, because there was no centralized system available in these areas.

Facilities for 15 kV AC railway electrification in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Main article: List of installations for 15 kV AC railway electrification in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Germany, Austria and Switzerland operate the largest interconnected 15 kV AC system with central generation, and central and local converter plants.

Germany

Substations

In these facilities electricity is transformed down from 110 kV-level of DB to 15 kV. There is no conversion or generation of power.

Facility	Coordinates
Aalen	48°49′20″N 10°02′31″E
Adelsheim	49°24′57″N 9°24′17″E
Almstedt	52°01′53″N 9°56′26″E
Amstetten	48°34′08″N 9°52′37″E
Appenweier	48°32′37″N 7°58′23″E
Aschaffenburg	49°59′08″N 9°05′33″E
Aubing	48°09′08″N 11°26′40″E
Augsburg	48°23′54″N 10°52′0″E
Bachstedt (planned)	51°03′18″N 11°11′32″E
Baden-Baden	48°44′03″N 8°08′49″E
Bad Reichenhall	47°44′51″N 12°54′09″E
Barnstorf	52°42′26″N 8°30′40″E
Bebra	50°58′32″N 9°47′23″E
Bengel	50°0′34″N 7°03′23″E
Berlin-Schönefeld	52°23′39″N 13°31′03″E
Biblis	49°41′03″N 8°26′39″E
Bingen	49°57′16″N 7°56′54″E
Böhla	51°14′08″N 13°32′44″E
Boizenburg	53°23′29″N 10°43′58″E
Borken ( part of converter)	51°03′07″N 9°17′01″E
Borne	52°06′40″N 12°32′28″E
Braunschweig	52°16′09″N 10°38′24″E
Buchholz	53°19′20″N 9°51′44″E
Burgdorf	47°03′44″N 7°36′41″E
Burgweinting	48°58′53″N 12°09′13″E
Chemnitz ( part of converter)	50°51′44″N 12°56′21″E
Datteln	51°37′43″N 7°20′03″E
Denkendorf	48°56′19″N 11°27′19″E
Donauwörth	48°42′58″N 10°45′43″E
Dörstewitz (planned)	51°23′35″N 11°54′16″E
Dortmund	51°30′38″N 7°24′03″E
Dortmund-Scharnhorst	51°32′14″N 7°31′56″E
Dresden ( part of converter)	50°59′40″N 13°50′06″E
Duisburg	51°24′45″N 6°47′33″E
Düsseldorf	51°13′18″N 6°50′11″E
Ebensfeld	50°05′0″N 10°57′41″E
Eggolsheim	49°45′10″N 11°03′27″E
Eichenberg	51°22′34″N 9°55′31″E
Eilenburg	51°26′48″N 12°37′08″E
Eischleben (planned)	50°53′02″N 10°58′55″E
Eisenach	50°57′51″N 10°22′19″E
Elmshorn	53°45′45″N 9°39′17″E
Elsfleth	53°16′52″N 8°28′26″E
Emden	53°21′30″N 7°13′11″E
Emskirchen	49°33′30″N 10°41′43″E
Essen	51°27′24″N 7°01′39″E
Eutingen	48°28′47″N 8°46′44″E
Eystrup	52°47′32″N 9°13′45″E
Fallersleben	52°25′16″N 10°40′30″E
Finnentrop	51°10′03″N 7°58′01″E
Flieden	50°25′08″N 9°34′18″E
Flörsheim	50°0′17″N 8°24′54″E
Freiburg	47°58′52″N 7°49′41″E
Friedberg	50°19′28″N 8°46′25″E
Fronhausen	50°41′55″N 8°41′53″E
Fulda	50°32′40″N 9°41′28″E
Gabelbach	48°22′45″N 10°33′35″E
Garssen	52°40′30″N 10°07′44″E
Geisenbrunn	48°06′29″N 11°19′51″E
Geltendorf	48°06′21″N 11°01′48″E
Gemünden	50°03′35″N 9°40′38″E
Genshagener Heide	52°20′05″N 13°16′38″E
Gleidingen	52°16′01″N 9°50′06″E
Golm	52°24′10″N 12°58′08″E
Gössnitz (old)	50°52′36″N 12°25′10″E
Gössnitz (new)	50°54′07″N 12°25′59″E
Grafing	48°02′53″N 11°56′12″E
Grönhart	48°59′29″N 10°55′48″E
Grossheringen	51°06′22″N 11°39′19″E
Grosskorbetha	51°15′12″N 12°01′14″E
Grünauer Kreuz ( switching post)	52°25′31″N 13°33′42″E
Güsen	52°20′07″N 11°58′42″E
Hagen	51°24′32″N 7°27′43″E
Hahn (planned)	53°17′42″N 8°09′52″E
Halbe (fed from 15 kV line from Neuhof)	52°07′00″N 13°41′31″E
Haltingen	47°36′19″N 7°36′40″E
Hamburg-Harburg ( part of converter)	53°26′57″N 10°00′02″E
Hameln	52°08′26″N 9°26′43″E
Haren	52°47′02″N 7°18′04″E
Heeren	52°34′28″N 11°52′05″E
Herbolzheim	48°13′58″N 7°46′09″E
Herchen	50°46′11″N 7°31′19″E
Hessental	49°05′58″N 9°46′36″E
Höchst	50°06′12″N 8°33′28″E
Holzkirchen	47°53′0″N 11°41′56″E
Ihringshausen	51°21′07″N 9°32′14″E
Ilmenau-Wolfsberg (planned)	50°41′17″N 10°59′54″E
Ingolstadt	48°46′48″N 11°25′34″E
Jübek ( part of converter)	54°33′25″N 9°24′35″E
Kaiserslautern	49°26′16″N 7°42′19″E
Karow	52°36′29″N 13°27′30″E
Karthaus	49°42′28″N 6°35′28″E
Kirchheim	50°52′40″N 9°35′13″E
Kirchmöser	52°22′55″N 12°24′36″E
Klebitz	51°56′32″N 12°50′12″E
Koblenz	50°23′12″N 7°33′52″E
Köln ( part of converter)	50°54′14″N 7°02′55″E
Köln-Mülheim	50°58′21″N 7°01′07″E
Körle	51°10′51″N 9°31′48″E
Kreiensen	51°50′54″N 9°58′11″E
Kyhna	51°30′42″N 12°16′50″E
Landshut	48°32′48″N 12°06′31″E
Leer	53°12′48″N 7°27′53″E
Lehrte ( part of converter)	52°22′54″N 9°57′20″E
Leipzig-Wahren	51°22′55″N 12°18′47″E
Leonberg	48°47′35″N 8°58′28″E
Limburg	50°22′45″N 8°05′59″E
Löhne	52°11′42″N 8°42′35″E
Lüneburg	53°16′01″N 10°24′42″E
Magdeburg	52°09′12″N 11°39′35″E
Mainbernheim	49°42′0″N 10°12′39″E
Mannheim	49°26′27″N 8°33′43″E
Markt Bibart	49°38′48″N 10°25′24″E
Markt Schwaben	48°11′06″N 11°50′59″E
Marl ( part of converter)	51°39′42″N 7°10′45″E
Meckesheim	49°19′45″N 8°48′19″E
Mehrhoog	51°44′55″N 6°29′57″E
Montabaur	50°26′43″N 7°49′13″E
Mörlach	49°11′57″N 11°14′24″E
Mottgers	50°16′43″N 9°39′21″E
Mühlacker	48°57′06″N 8°50′15″E
Mühlanger	51°51′02″N 12°45′54″E
Muldenstein	51°39′31″N 12°21′01″E
Müllheim	47°48′20″N 7°35′44″E
München-Freimann	48°11′56″N 11°36′30″E
München-Ost	48°08′13″N 11°39′02″E
Münster	51°55′25″N 7°38′05″E
Murnau	47°41′19″N 11°11′33″E
Nannhofen	48°12′58″N 11°11′20″E
Neckarelz	49°20′21″N 9°07′0″E
Neumarkt (Oberpfalz)	49°16′06″N 11°27′45″E
Neudittendorf	50°54′29″N 10°53′38″E
Neuhof	52°08′03″N 13°28′49″E
Neumünster	54°06′33″N 9°56′49″E
Neu-Ulm ( part of converter)	48°23′52″N 10°01′18″E
Niedernhausen	50°09′24″N 8°19′09″E
Niemberg	51°33′33″N 12°06′10″E
Nörten-Hardenberg	51°38′21″N 9°56′12″E
Nürnberg ( part of converter)	49°25′22″N 11°00′30″E
Nürnberg-Stein ( part of converter)	49°25′47″N 11°00′19″E
Oberacker	49°05′23″N 8°43′55″E
Oberdachstetten	49°25′03″N 10°25′31″E
Oelde	51°49′31″N 8°07′27″E
Offenbach am Main	50°06′13″N 8°47′17″E
Offenburg	48°27′30″N 7°55′10″E
Orscheid	50°39′18″N 7°19′24″E
Osnabrück	52°15′56″N 8°07′04″E
Plattling	48°46′49″N 12°51′08″E
Plochingen	48°43′08″N 9°23′31″E
Pretzier	52°49′48″N 11°16′49″E
Pulling	48°22′12″N 11°42′50″E
Rathenow	52°35′26″N 12°16′39″E
Remagen	50°34′06″N 7°14′35″E
Rethen	52°17′29″N 9°48′47″E
Riesa	51°18′41″N 13°16′0″E
Ritterhude	53°11′37″N 8°45′47″E
Rödelheim	50°08′29″N 8°35′49″E
Rohrbach	49°58′59″N 9°42′12″E
Röhrmoos	48°19′24″N 11°26′49″E
Rosenheim	47°50′44″N 12°07′58″E
Rotenburg ( new)	53°06′28″N 9°21′06″E
Rotenburg ( old)	53°06′26″N 9°21′17″E
Roth (planned)	50°22′57″N 11°02′13″E
Rottweil	48°07′56″N 8°39′18″E
Rudersdorf	50°50′04″N 8°8′58″E
Saalfeld	50°38′42″N 11°22′35″E
Saarbrücken ( part of converter)	49°14′38″N 6°58′40″E
Salzbergen	52°19′42″N 7°20′39″E
Saubachtal (planned)	51°12′20″N 11°32′33″E
Siegburg	50°47′23″N 7°12′30″E
Sindorf	50°53′34″N 6°39′14″E
Singen	47°45′29″N 8°52′54″E
Solpke	52°30′02″N 11°17′43″E
Sommerau	48°07′39″N 8°18′41″E
Steinbach am Wald	50°26′10″N 11°22′51″E
Stetzsch	51°04′35″N 13°39′36″E
Stolberg	50°47′29″N 6°12′06″E
Stuttgart-Rohr	48°42′50″N 9°06′35″E
Stuttgart-Zazenhausen	48°50′40″N 9°11′03″E
Traunstein	47°52′06″N 12°37′42″E
Uelzen	52°57′50″N 10°32′37″E
Urbach	50°33′15″N 7°34′26″E
Vaihingen / Enz	48°56′35″N 8°57′58″E
Wächtersbach	50°14′44″N 9°17′18″E
Waiblingen	48°49′31″N 9°17′51″E
Waigolshausen	49°58′01″N 10°06′59″E
Warburg	51°29′50″N 9°08′58″E
Weimar ( part of converter)	50°59′27″N 11°20′34″E
Weiterstadt	49°54′38″N 8°34′29″E
Werdau	50°43′11″N 12°22′11″E
Wickrath	51°07′15″N 6°23′44″E
Wiesbaden	50°01′52″N 8°15′59″E
Wiesental	49°13′19″N 8°29′48″E
Wolfratshausen	47°54′30″N 11°25′32″E
Wörsdorf	50°14′09″N 8°14′51″E
Wunstorf	52°24′56″N 9°28′58″E
Würzburg	49°48′06″N 9°53′52″E
Wurzen	51°21′47″N 12°44′45″E
Wustermark	52°32′26″N 12°58′25″E
Zapfendorf (shut down)	50°01′33″N 10°56′29″E

Switching stations

Stations for connecting/isolating parts of the system.

Facility	Coordinates
Gabelbach	48°22′49″N 10°33′32″E
Kirchhellen	51°37′56″N 6°57′9″E
Neckarwestheim	49°2′34″N 9°12′6″E
Nenndorf	53°22′35″N 9°54′13″E
Nitzahn	52°27′35″N 12°20′45″E
Schönarts	49°57′46″N 9°49′08″E

Central converter plants

In these facilities the AC from the public grid is transformed and converted into the single phase AC and fed into the railway current distribution grid. At some facilities, power is also fed to the overhead line. Conversion is done by rotary converters or electronic inverters.

Facility	Year of commissioning	Power	Technology	Coordinates
Aschaffenburg	2010	60 MW	GTO-Thyristor	49°59′08″N 9°05′33″E
Borken	1963	50 MW	Rotary converter	51°3′7″N 9°17′01″E
Bremen		100 MW	GTO-thyristor	53°7′49″N 8°40′49″E
Chemnitz	1965		Rotary converter	50°51′42″N 12°56′18″E
Dresden	1977		Rotary converter	50°59′40″N 13°50′6″E
Düsseldorf		30 MW	GTO-thyristor	51°13′18″N 6°50′11″E
Hamburg-Harburg			Rotary converter	53°26′55″N 10°0′6″E
Jübek		14 MW	GTO-thyristor	54°33′25″N 9°24′34″E
Karlsfeld		100 MW	GTO-thyristor	48°12′57″N 11°26′06″E
Karlsruhe	1957	53 MW	Rotary converter	48°58′49″N 8°22′34″E
Köln	1957	75 MW	Rotary converter	50°54′14″N 7°2′55″E
Lehrte	1963 (rotary converter)/ 2010 (inverter)	37 MW (rotary converter)/ 64 MW (inverter)	Rotary converter/ inverter	52°22′54″N 9°57′15″E
Limburg		120 MW	IGCT inverter	50°24′20″N 8°3′58″E
Marl	1963	25 MW	Rotary converter	51°39′40″N 7°10′47″E
Neckarwestheim	1989	140 MW	Rotary converter	49°2′22″N 9°10′40″E
Neckarwestheim II	2011	140 MW	GTO-thyristor	48°2′16″N 9°10′40″E
Neu-Ulm			Rotary converter	48°23′51″N 10°1′16″E
Nürnberg	1939	34	Rotary converter	49°25′48″N 11°0′18″E
Nürnberg	2012	75	IGBT-Inverter	49°25′48″N 11°0′18″E
Pforzheim (shut down)			Rotary converter
Saarbrücken			Rotary converter	49°14′37″N 6°58′35″E
Singen (shut down in 2002)			Rotary converter	47°45′29″N 8°52′54″E
Thyrow	2004/2005	8×15 = 120 MW	GTO-thyristor	52°14′0″N 13°18′10″E
Weimar	1973		Rotary converter	50°59′27″N 11°20′34″E

Local converter plants

In these facilities the AC from the public grid is transformed and converted into the single phase AC and fed to the overhead line. Conversion is done by rotary converters or electronic inverters.

Facility	Year of commissioning	Power	Technology	Coordinates
Adamsdorf	1984		Rotary converter	53°24′31″N 13°2′43″E
Anklam			Rotary converter	53°50′46″N 13°43′0″E
Berlin-Rummelsburg	1984		Rotary converter	52°29′12″N 13°30′33″E
Bützow (demolished)			Rotary converter	53°49′30″N 11°59′3″E
Cottbus	1989		Rotary converter	51°45′0″N 14°17′12″E
Doberlug-Kirchhain	1981 (Rotary converter), 2008 (Inverter)		Inverter	51°38′49″N 13°34′51″E
Eberswalde	1987		Rotary converter	52°50′40″N 13°48′1″E
Falkenberg	1987		Rotary converter	51°34′50″N 13°15′26″E
Oder			Rotary converter	52°21′17″N 14°28′42″E
Lalendorf			Rotary converter	53°45′15″N 12°23′54″E
Löwenberger Land			Rotary converter	52°54′5″N 13°11′18″E
Ludwigsfelde	1981		Rotary converter	52°18′17″N 13°16′31″E
Lübeck-Genin	2008		Inverter	?
Magdeburg (shut down)	1974		Rotary converter	52°9′14″N 11°39′40″E
Neustadt (Dosse)			Rotary converter	52°50′51″N 12°27′24″E
Oberröblingen			Rotary converter	51°26′42″N 11°17′44″E
Prenzlau			Rotary converter	53°19′59″N 13°52′21″E
Rosslau			Rotary converter	51°53′51″N 12°14′29″E
Rostock	1985		Rotary converter	54°3′54″N 12°8′39″E
Schwerin	1987		Rotary converter	53°35′39″N 11°23′11″E
Senftenberg	1988		Rotary converter	51°31′58″N 14°1′14″E
Stendal			Rotary converter	52°35′0″N 11°52′7″E
Stralsund			Rotary converter	54°17′9″N 13°5′23″E
Wittenberg	1978		Rotary converter	51°52′30″N 12°41′20″E
Wittenberge	1987		Rotary converter	52°59′46″N 11°46′8″E
Wolkramshausen			Inverter	51°26′19″N 10°44′8″E
Wünsdorf	1982		Rotary converter	52°10′24″N 13°27′42″E
Wustermark			Rotary converter	52°32′33″N 12°58′25″E

Power plants

Facility	Year of commissioning	Power	Type	State	Coordinates
Bad Abbach	2000	3.5 MW	Hydroelectric power plant	Bavaria	48°56′47″N 12°00′47″E
Aufkirchen			Hydroelectric power plant	Bavaria	48°18′19″N 11°51′29″E
Bad Reichenhall	1912	7.2 MW	Hydroelectric power plant	Bavaria	47°43′4″N 12°51′47″E
Bergheim	1970	23.7 MW	Hydroelectric power plant	Bavaria	48°45′2″N 11°16′23″E
Bertoldsheim	1967	18.9 MW	Hydroelectric power plant	Bavaria	48°44′8″N 11°1′14″E
Bittenbrunn	1969	20.2 MW	Hydroelectric power plant	Bavaria	48°44′4″N 11°8′37″E
Datteln			Coal-fired power plant	North Rhine-Westphalia	51°37′43″N 7°19′50″E
Eitting Hydroelectric Power Plant			Hydroelectric power plant	Bavaria	48°21′31″N 11°52′56″E
Ingolstadt	1971	19.8 MW	Hydroelectric power plant	Bavaria	48°45′1″N 11°24′43″E
Kammerl	1905		Hydroelectric power plant	Bavaria	47°39′42″N 10°59′12″E
Kirchmöser		160 MW	Gas turbine power plant	Brandenburg	52°23′39″N 12°25′5″E
Langenprozelten	1976	160 MW	Hydroelectric power plant	Bavaria	50°3′11″N 9°34′52″E
Lausward	1957	520 MW	Gas turbine power plant	North Rhine-Westphalia	51°13′16″N 6°43′58″E
Lünen	1984	110 MW	Coal-fired power plant	North Rhine-Westphalia	51°36′59″N 7°28′44″E
Mannheim	1955	190 MW	Coal-fired power plant	Baden-Württemberg	49°26′45″N 8°29′27″E
Muldenstein (retired)	1912	11.3 MW	Coal-fired power plant	Saxony-Anhalt	51°39′25″N 12°20′59″E
Mittelsbüren		110 MW	Coal-fired power plant	Bremen	53°7′43″N 8°41′7″E
Neckarwestheim I	1976	190 MW	Nuclear power plant	Baden-Württemberg	49°2′25″N 9°10′18″E
Pfrombach			Hydroelectric power plant	Bavaria	48°26′28″N 11°59′34″E
Vohburg			Hydroelectric power plant	Bavaria	48°46′40″N 11°36′4″E
Walchensee	1924		Hydroelectric power plant	Bavaria	47°37′48″N 11°20′17″E

Points where two powerlines for traction current crosses each other without interconnection

Lines	Coordinates
Flieden-Bebra / Fulda-Mottgers	50°28′55″N 9°40′52″E
Bebra-Borken / Kirchheim-Körle	51°01′59″N 9°34′31″E
Karlsruhe-Mühlacker /Vaihingen-Graben/Neudorf	48°56′40″N 8°48′18″E
Orscheid-Köln / Orscheid-Montabaur	50°39′15″N 7°19′28″E
Mannheim-Neckarelz / Mannheim-Wiesental	49°25′38″N 8°34′9″E

Border-crossing power lines

Germany – Austria

Line	Coordinates
Walchenseekraftwerk – Zirl	47°23′55″N 11°15′53″E
Traunstein – Steinsdorf	47°53′20″N 12°58′25″E

Former border between West and East Germany

Line	Coordinates
Lehrte – Heeren	52°24′48″N 10°59′34″E
Bebra – Weimar	51°00′29″N 10°12′13″E
Steinfeld am Wald – Saalfeld	50°27′52″N 11°25′07″E

Switzerland

Substations

In these facilities electricity is transformed down from 132 kV or 66 kV to 15 kV. There is no conversion or generation of power.

Facility	Coordinates
Balerna	45°50′52″N 9°00′11″E
Biel	47°7′48″N 7°15′26″E
Brugg	47°28′28″N 8°12′16″E
Burgdorf	47°03′44″N 7°36′41″E
Bussigny	46°32′38″N 6°33′36″E
Chur (RhB)	46°52′24″N 9°31′57″E
Croy	46°42′00″N 6°28′33″E
Courtemaîche	47°27′21″N 7°3′20″E
Delémont	47°21′49″N 7°21′30″E
Eglisau	47°34′22″N 8°30′50″E
Emmenbrücke	47°4′4″N 8°17′9″E
Etzwilen	47°39′42″N 8°49′7″E
Farsch	46°49′25″N 9°23′59″E
Filisur (RhB)	46°40′19″N 9°41′36″E
Flüelen	46°53′43″N 8°37′29″E
Fribourg	46°48′50″N 7°9′15″E
Frutigen	46°34′48″N 7°38′56″E
Gampel	46°18′28″N 7°45′24″E
Genève-Tuleries	46°14′59″N 6°8′48″E
Giornico	46°24′5″N 8°52′23″E
Gland	46°24′52″N 6°15′48″E
Hendschiken	47°23′29″N 8°12′16″E
Kandersteg	46°30′10″N 7°40′28″E
Küblis (RhB)	46°54′56″N 9°45′33″E
Melide	45°57′59″N 8°56′54″E
Muttenz	47°32′5″N 7°38′38″E
Neuchâtel	46°59′25″N 6°54′56″E
Killwangen	47°26′13″N 8°20′38″E
Olten	47°21′40″N 7°55′20″E
Puidoux	46°29′21″N 6°45′41″E
Rapperswil SG	47°13′29″N 8°49′55″E
Rivera	46°7′32″N 8°55′27″E
Roche	46°21′52″N 6°55′28″E
Romont FR	46°41′4″N 6°54′23″E
Rotkreuz	47°8′42″N 8°26′27″E
Sagliains (RhB)	46°45′44″N 10°05′39″E
Saint Léonard	46°15′8″N 7°25′21″E
Sankt Margrethen	47°27′12″N 9°38′22″E
Sargans	47°2′26″N 9°27′8″E
Seebach	47°25′20″N 8°33′17″E
Selfranga (RhB)	46°51′20″N 9°53′03″E
Sihlbrugg	47°14′34″N 8°34′37″E
Sils (RhB)	46°42′8″N 9°28′8″E
Stein AG	47°32′29″N 7°57′59″E
Steinen	47°2′53″N 8°36′17″E
Tavanasa (RhB)	46°45′09″N 9°02′42″E
Thun	46°46′20″N 7°35′53″E
Varzo ( Italy, operated by SBB)	46°12′25″N 8°14′31″E
Wanzwil	47°11′49″N 7°41′40″E
Wetzikon ZH	47°18′35″N 8°47′56″E
Winterthur-Grüze	47°30′0″N 8°45′4″E
Yverdon	46°46′03″N 6°38′51″E
Ziegelbrücke	47°7′59″N 9°3′55″E
Zürich	47°22′52″N 8°31′19″E

Central converter plants

In these facilities the AC from public grid is transformed and converted into the single phase AC and fed into the railway current distribution grid. At some facilities, power is also fed to the overhead line. Conversion is done by rotary converters or electronic inverters.

Facility	Year of commissioning	Power	Technology used	Coordinates
Bever (RhB)		4,6 MW	Rotary converter	46°32′52″N 9°53′17″E
Landquart (RhB)		5 MW	Rotary converter	46°58′28″N 9°33′6″E
Giubiasco			Rotary converter	46°10′32″N 9°0′9″E
Kerzers			Rotary converter	46°58′27″N 7°11′25″E
Massaboden			Rotary converter	46°19′55″N 8°0′42″E
Rupperswil			Rotary converter	47°24′21″N 8°6′19″E
Seebach			Rotary converter	47°25′20″N 8°33′17″E
Wimmis			Rotary converter	46°40′51″N 7°39′23″E

Switching stations

Stations for connecting/isolating parts of the system.

Facility	Coordinates
Zollikofen	47°0′45″N 7°27′53″E

Power plants

Facility	Year of commissioning	Power	Type	Coordinates
Amsteg	1922	55 MW	Hydroelectric power plant	46°46′4″N 8°40′18″E
Le Châtelard VS			Hydroelectric power plant	46°3′41″N 6°57′29″E
Etzelwerk			Hydroelectric power plant	47°11′42″N 8°48′42″E
Göschenen			Hydroelectric power plant	46°40′2″N 8°35′3″E
Klosters (RhB)		8.5 MW	Hydroelectric power plant	46°51′39″N 9°53′44″E
Gösgen		51,3 MW	Hydroelectric power plant	47°22′8″N 7°58′47″E
Lungerersee	1994	9 MW	Hydroelectric Power Plant	46°49′20.51″N 8°10′25.52″E
Massaboden	1916	7,2 MW	Hydroelectric power plant	46°19′55″N 8°0′42″E
Mühleberg	1921	45 MW	Hydroelectric power plant	46°58′9″N 7°17′4″E
Ritom	1920		Hydroelectric power plant	46°31′2″N 8°40′33″E
Rupperswil	1945		Hydroelectric power plant	47°24′42″N 8°6′52″E
Vernayaz			Hydroelectric power plant	46°8′3″N 7°2′10″E
Wassen			Hydroelectric power plant	46°42′56″N 8°36′36″E

Points, where two powerlines for traction current crosses each other without interconnection

Lines	Coordinates
Bussigny-Croy / Romanel-Les Tuileries	46°33′45″N 6°31′45″E
Puidoux-Kerzers / Bussigny-Chamoson	46°32′09″N 6°48′11″E
Puidoux-Vernayaz/ Bussigny-Chamoson	46°22′07″N 6°55′23″E
Puidoux-Vernayaz/ Bussigny-Chamoson	46°10′26″N 7°01′50″E
Puidoux-Vernayaz/ Vernayaz Branch	46°08′48″N 7°02′16″E
Vernayaz-Brig/ Bussigny-Chamoson	46°06′52″N 7°05′55″E

Border-crossing power lines

Germany–Switzerland

Line	Coordinates
Holdingen – Muttenz	47°34′53″N 07°36′14″E
Singen – Etzwilen	47°42′49″N 08°49′52″E

Austria

Substations

In these facilities electricity is transformed down from 110 kV to 15 kV. No conversion or generation of power takes place.

Facility	Coordinates
Absdorf	48°23′52″N 15°59′38″E
Angern	48°22′56″N 16°49′19″E
Amstetten (Österreich)	48°7′9″N 14°53′7″E
Asten	48°14′2″N 14°24′20″E
Attnang-Puchheim	48°1′8″N 13°43′38″E
Bad Vöslau	47°58′06″N 16°13′28″E
Bludenz	47°8′41″N 9°49′44″E
Bruck Mur	47°25′42″N 15°16′26″E
Dölsach	46°48′53″N 12°49′55″E
Dorfgastein	47°14′5″N 13°6′17″E
Elsbethen	47°45′9″N 13°5′4″E
Feldkirch	47°15′8″N 9°37′4″E
Florisdorf	48°15′42″N 16°24′19″E
Fritzens-Wattens	47°18′6″N 11°35′48″E
Gaisbach Wartberg	48°19′51″N 14°29′52″E
Golling-Abtenau	47°35′53″N 13°9′53″E
Göpfritz	48°43′48″N 15°23′29″E
Gries am Brenner	47°2′36″N 11°29′9″E
Götzendorf	48°1′34″N 16°34′59″E
Graz	47°04′40″N 15°24′48″E
Haag	48°05′33″N 14°35′36″E
Hohenau
Hütteldorf	48°11′43″N 16°16′17″E
Kitzbühel	47°28′52″N 12°22′59″E
Küpfern	47°51′9″N 14°37′3″E
Landeck	47°9′8″N 10°35′11″E
Mallnitz	46°58′40″N 13°10′44″E
Marchtrenk	48°12′11″N 14°6′11″E
Mariahof	47°06′16″N 14°22′28″E
Matrei	47°7′38″N 11°27′11″E
Meidling	48°10′30″N 16°20′29″E
Mistelbach	48°33′51″N 16°33′33″E
Münster
Parndorf	47°59′45″N 16°50′33″E
Pettneu	47°08′55″N 10°21′46″E
Pusarnitz	46°50′5″N 13°24′17″E
Riedau	48°18′31″N 13°37′37″E
Rohr	48°11′15″N 15°25′47″E
Sankt Johann im Pongau	47°20′10″N 13°11′23″E
Sankt Pölten	48°13′55″N 15°39′19″E
Sankt Veit	46°45′39″N 14°22′28″E
Schladming	47°23′38″N 13°40′43″E
Schlöglmühl	47°40′57″N 15°54′46″E
Semmering	47°37′36″N 15°48′53″E
Wien-Simmering	48°09′05″N 16°25′37″E
Steindorf	47°58′0″N 13°14′24″E
Tulln	48°19′24″N 16°2′37″E
Unterberg	47°12′50″N 11°23′32″E
Villach	46°35′42″N 13°49′55″E
Wald am Schoberpass	47°27′5″N 14°40′7″E
Wartberg an der Krems	47°59′21″N 14°7′18″E
Wegscheid	48°14′16″N 14°16′3″E
Wiener Neustadt	47°47′54″N 16°13′13″E
Wörgl	47°29′58″N 12°4′19″E
Zellerndorf	48°41′31″N 15°58′9″E
Zirl (old)	47°15′53″N 11°13′59″E
Zirl (neu)	47°15′55″N 11°13′18″E

Central converter plants

In these facilities the AC from the public grid is transformed and converted into the single phase AC and fed into the railway current distribution grid. At some facilities, power is also fed to the overhead line. Conversion is done by rotary converters or electronic inverters.

Facility	Year of commissioning	Power	Coordinates
Auhof	1956	90 MW	48°12′00″N 16°14′12″E
Bergern	1983		48°13′3″N 15°16′17″E
Haiming	1995		47°14′47″N 10°52′27″E
Kledering	1989		48°8′21″N 16°25′56″E
Sankt Michael	1975		47°21′27″N 15°0′9″E

Power plants

Facility	Year of commissioning	Power	Type	Coordinates
Annabrücke		20 MW	Hydroelectric power plant	46°33′39″N 14°28′46″E
Braz	1954	20 MW	Hydroelectric power plant	47°8′0″N 9°56′45″E
Enzigerboden		20 MW	Hydroelectric power plant	47°10′10″N 12°37′36″E
Fulpmes	1983	15 MW	Hydroelectric power plant	47°9′30″N 11°21′29″E
Obervellach			Hydroelectric power plant	46°56′13″N 13°11′29″E
Schaltposten Schönberg			Hydroelectric power plant	47°12′02″N 11°23′29″E
Sankt Pantaleon			Hydroelectric power plant	48°13′29″N 14°31′50″E
Schneiderau			Hydroelectric power plant	47°11′50″N 12°36′28″E
Spullersee	1925	36 MW	Hydroelectric power plant	47°7′58″N 10°3′16″E
Steeg	1910		Hydroelectric power plant (only direct fed of overhead wire)	47°36′29″N 13°37′57″E
Uttendorf			Hydroelectric power plant	47°15′43″N 12°34′3″E
Weyer			Hydroelectric power plant	47°51′07″N 14°38′19″E

Points, where two powerlines for traction current crosses each other without interconnection

Lines	Coordinates
Sankt Johann im Pongau-Bruck/Fusch / Sankt Johann im Pongau-Selzthal	47°20′09″N 13°11′27″E
Sankt Johann im Pongau-Uttendorf / Sankt Johann im Pongau-Mallnitz	47°20′01″N 13°11′17″E
Sankt Johann im Pongau-Bruck/Fusch / Sankt Johann im Pongau-Mallnitz	47°17′47″N 13°04′24″E
Sankt Johann im Pongau-Schneiderau / Bruck/Fusch-Uttendorf	47°15′46″N 12°33′59″E
Sankt Johann im Pongau-Schneiderau / Uttendorf-Kitzbühl	47°15′45″N 12°33′59″E
Sankt Johann im Pongau-Schneiderau / Uttendorf-Kitzbühl	47°15′44″N 12°33′59″E
Bruck/Fusch-Enzingerboden / Uttendorf-Kitzbühl	47°15′45″N 12°33′55″E
Uttendorf-Enzingerboden, Schneiderau Branch / Schneiderau-Enzingerboden	47°11′49″N 12°36′28″E
Uttendorf-Enzingerboden / Schneiderau-Enzingerboden	47°10′39″N 12°37′34″E
Uttendorf-Enzingerboden / Schneiderau-Enzingerboden	47°11′38″N 12°37′00″E

Norway

In Norway all electric railways use 16 kV 16​²⁄₃ Hz AC [3] (except the Thamshavnbanen museum railway which uses 6.6 kV 25 Hz AC). The Oslo T-bane and tramways use 750 V DC power.

Sweden

Main article: List of installations for 15 kV AC railway electrification in Sweden

In Sweden most electric railways use 15 kV 16​²⁄₃ Hz AC. Exceptions include: Saltsjöbanan and Roslagsbanan (1.5 kV DC), the Stockholm Metro (650 V and 750 V DC) and tramways (750 V DC). The Oresund Bridge linking Sweden and Denmark is electrified at 25 kV, Danish standard; the split is located on the Swedish side near the bridge. Only two-system trains (or diesel trains; rare) can pass the point.

See also

• List of railway electrification systems
• Category:15 kV AC locomotives
• 25 Hz Power Transmission System
• 25 kV AC railway electrification
• Rotary phase converter
• Seebach-Wettingen railway electrification trial
• Traction power network

References

1. Bahnstromsystem (German) railway electrification systems
2. C. Linder (2002). "Umstellung der Sollfrequenz im zentralen Bahnstromnetz von ​16 ²⁄₃ Hz auf 16,70 Hz" [Switching the frequency in train electric power supply network from 16 2/3 Hz to 16,70 Hz]. Elektrische Bahnen (in German). 12. ISSN 0013-5437.
3. "Bane Energi". jernbaneverket. Archived from the original on 5 October 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.

External links

• DB Energie soll Durchleitung von Bahnstrom ermöglichen (in German)