Interfacing electrification and system reliability 73

Roger White Abstract

Professional Head Integration is the term given to ensuring that the different elements
of Electrification
and Plant of an electrified railway operate together to achieve the desired
result. This is particularly problematic where interfaces exist between
Rail
the high power electrification distribution or traction systems, and
the low power signalling and communications control systems.
The challenge of integrating electrical systems will not be made any easier
as client and public expectations of new rail transit systems require railway
designers to incorporate more versatile and sophisticated electrification systems.
Railway authorities in the past have found difficulty in implementing a
management strategy that will ensure electrified railway systems are integrated.
This is made more complex where the privatisation of railways and the
procurement process divides contracts into separate engineering disciplines.
This paper seeks to explain the challenge of integrating the electrification
system with the sensitive signalling, communication control and low
voltage systems. Additionally the paper will review the technical necessities
of integrating the electrification system with large civil structures. The
paper will demonstrate how railway authorities are being challenged
by the difficult task of integrating these system-wide disciplines.

Interfaces between Earthing of AC and

electrical systems DC railways 4,10,13
The electrical systems integration Electrical transportation systems Earthing design objectives: The
process for an electrified railway (UK) by law are required to meet earthing system, its components
should ensure that traction power, specific safety requirements: and bonding conductors should
control systems, traction and rolling • Health and Safety at be capable of distributing and
stock and radio based systems are Work Act 1974. discharging the fault current without
integrated successfully. Specific exceeding thermal and mechanical
• Electricity at Work
engineering interfaces exist between design limits based on back-up
Regulations 1989.
rolling stock to electrification; rolling protection operating time.
stock to signalling; electrification • Railways (Safety Critical
Work) Regulations 1994 The earthing system should
to signalling and communications; maintain its integrity for the
civil to LV and HV electrification • Construction (Health, Safety and
expected lifetime of the installation
and stray current to third parties. Welfare) Regulations 1996.
with due allowance for corrosion
Interface of earth exists between • Management of Health and Safety and mechanical constraints.
all electrical systems. This paper will at Work Regulations 1999.
Earthing system performance should
review in more detail earthing of AC • Control of Substances Hazardous avoid damage to equipment due
and DC railways, AC/DC interfaces, to Health (COSHH). to excessive potential rise, potential
lightning and stray current corrosion. • Transport and Works Act, 1992 differences within the earthing
• The Railways Act 2005 system and excessive currents flowing
• EMC Regulations 2005 in auxiliary paths not intended for
• The Railways and Other Guided carrying parts of the fault current.
Transport Systems (Safety) The earthing system, in combination
Regulations 2006 ROGS with appropriate measures, should
• Construction (Design and maintain step, touch and transferred
Management) Regulations 2007. potentials within the voltage limits
based on normal operating time of
Responsibility for regulation of
protection relays and breakers.
safety in 2006 moved from the
Health and Safety Executive to The earthing system performance
the Office of the Rail Regulator. should contribute to ensuring
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electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)

among electrical and electronic
apparatus of the low-voltage system
in accordance with BS IEC 61000-5-2.

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73 Interfacing electrification and system reliability

Design approach to the earthing Lightning protection 11,12 Surge arrestors: Gas plasma
of the railway: To ensure compliance discharge arrestors have a fast
Lightning strikes on or near railway
with relevant standards there is a response to transient overvoltage
equipment can generate large
requirement for a robust Quality events. This fast response and the
voltage surges that can disturb or
Assurance process including an ability to handle very high current
damage railway operations. The
Earthing Management Plan, Earthing surges effectively suppresses
various ways in which a lightning
Installation Code of Practice and transients. Low capacitance
strike can affect railways are:
Earthing Test Specification. and high insulation resistance [
(i) Direct strike to the overhead lines >Gohm] produce a low leakage
Additionally the Earthing
Management Plan must address the (ii) Direct strike to the aerial ensuring that there is virtually no
design, installation, operation, and earth wire or gantries effect on the protected system.
maintenance aspects of the railway. (iii) Nearby strike to ground Installation of surge arrestors:
[induced voltages] Surge arrestors can be installed on
AC/DC railway interfaces 14 telecommunications cables or on the
(iv) Strike to ground further
away [ground potentials]. installation equipment. Surge arrestors
An AC railway is often designed
for commercial installations are rated
in close proximity to other DC A direct strike to the lines can at typically 250V. This is normally too
light rail, metro and trams. Where generate an overvoltage surge of low for the railway environment.
there is parallel running, over several million volts. This will cause
bridges or under bridges, there a flashover across the support The surge arrestor operates when a
may be significant interactions insulators. The surge current will voltage between the line and remote
between the two electrified then find various routes to earth earth exceeds the level specified.
railway systems. The amount and depending on their surge impedance This method diverts the transient
characteristics of disturbance will be values. A lightning strike may also energy away from the line circuit
dependent on the interconnection generate a 25kV earth fault. and into the earth of the network.
of earths, traction loads, earth This is good as long as the earthed
Entry points for lightning to the system is not coupled in any way with
faults, the physical arrangement,
railway control systems are numerous the telecommunications cables. The
the electrical systems design and
and some are detailed below: design of the earth should be such
the local ground conditions.
(i) Radio masts that there is no close parallel coupling
Track circuit disturbance: DC
(ii) Electrical supply points with telecommunications cables.
traction return current flowing in
the AC traction rails can interfere (iii) Rail and track connections
Stray current corrosion
with track circuits. Similarly the AC to signalling circuits
return current can interfere with track
control (DC railways) 5,7
(iv) Signalling data, control
circuits used on DC electrified lines. and indications cables The overall control strategy is to
DC stray current: The bonds follow an approach that minimises the
(v) Ground coupling through
between the rails and metal generation of stray current, controls
circulating earth loops,
structures etc. which are necessary its ‘escape’ and maintains separation
(vi) Induction into power, signalling between the rails and associated
for electrical safety in the presence
and communications circuits. collection systems and the metro civil
of high-voltage AC railway overhead
lines will provide a path for stray Design approach on railways: structures and external structures.
DC traction return current to flow The protection of buildings, The driving force for stray
to earth, and may cause electrolytic viaducts, bridges and structures current can be minimised by:
corrosion to the structures concerned, from lightning is by the provision
• Traction power substation
as well as neighbouring buried of lightning conductors and an
design and locations;
pipes, metal-sheathed cables etc. earth electrode system. This earth
is segregated from the earth path • Rail return circuit design and
Touch and accessible voltage: bonding; and minimising the
used by signalling control and the
The impedance of the rails at longitudinal electrical conductivity
electrical and plant (E&P) systems.
50 Hz is much greater than the of supporting structures
resistance of the rails at DC. This In the case of the station roof
means that the return current structure and viaduct there is a • Maintenance of a high rail
from AC trains, and from short- requirement to provide lightning to structure insulation.
circuits on the AC overhead lines, earthing, to control earth potentials. • Construction and maintenance of
would cause significant voltage Additionally there is a requirement to stray current collection systems
drops in the rails. This would bring ensure the insulation co-ordination to provide an efficient low
a risk of electric shock if suitable and any necessary segregation resistance preferential path for
means were not employed to required for sensitive signalling and current collection and return.
limit the voltage on the rails. control systems that are located on • Maintaining an electrical
or close to the station or viaduct. separation between the collection
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system and other conductive

parts of the structure.

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Interfacing electrification and system reliability 73

Design approach on DC railways: The new EMC directive 2004/108/ Electromagnetic interference
This strategy is designed to EC2 includes some simplification will largely cause interference
reduce corrosion threats to the and clarification when compared from the high power circuits of
rail infrastructure and to external to the original Directive: the electrification supply and
infrastructure by minimising stray (1) Manufacturers are required to traction drive into the train control
current leakage at source and perform an EMC assessment; systems, signalling systems and
retaining this as far as practicable including the application of railway and publicly owned
within the rail system. harmonised standards telecommunication systems, remote
The design process should: control, and monitoring systems.
(2) Manufacturers are required to
• Assess the interfaces between produce a Technical File [TF]
the railway and other third party to demonstrate conformity
The railway authority’s
infrastructure through a Stray (3) Manufacturers may choose to responsibilities 15
Current Control Survey to identify obtain an independent conformity The railway authority has a
and assess stray current and statement from a Notified Body. responsibility to ensure that projects
corrosion risk areas. ( E&M Earths,
(4) Manufacturers are required include design specifications
Civil Structures and Utilities)
to make a Declaration of that address interfaces between
• Utilises design philosophy Conformity [DoC] electrical systems and also the
that follows the guidance management process, to ensure
(5) A Fixed Installation [FI] at a
given in BSEN 50122-2, that systems do not adversely
pre-defined location is required
BSEN50162 and UK Trams ORR interact or disturb each other.
to conform to the essential
Tramway Guidance Notes
requirement but not to follow
• Undertake modelling techniques the conformity assessment
Application of railway and
to quantify these threats and procedure and therefore does national standards
validate the control measures not have to carry the CE Mark BS EN standards are used extensively
• Provide verification processes (6) The FI will usually consist of in the specification of railway
that should be designed and equipment carrying the CE projects. The projects assume that
applied at each stage of the marking installed as specified if the standards are implemented
project to provide assurance that by the manufacturer(s) and then their design will always be
the strategy has been correctly specific equipment not otherwise adequate. The basic standard for
applied and to identify issues commercially available can be earthing railways, EN 50122-1, is
for investigation and action incorporated, accompanied by very clear on safety requirements for
• Ensure a consistent approach and documentation which indicates earthing and equipotential bonding.
awareness both across the project precautions to be taken for However, the standard is not a
and between the below ground incorporation into the FI; the practical guide to earthing a railway.
and above ground sections. installation shall follow ‘good It is a performance specification
engineering practice’ which and details what is required to be
Compatibility of electrical must be documented. undertaken by railway administration.
systems 3,6,8,9 The railway environment: contains It does not provide any detail on how
many sources of electromagnetic, installation should be undertaken.
The EEC directive 89/336 made
the requirement that all electrical electrostatic noise and electrical It should also be noted that the
apparatus must not emit disturbances; and it is a hostile European Standard EN50122-1
electromagnetic radiation that environment for low power does not specifically address
would prevent other equipment circuits i.e. remote control systems, (1) earthing arrangements for
from functioning as intended. monitoring circuits, signalling systems, lightning protection
telecommunication circuits and radio
The European EMC Directive (2) provide detail design and
networks. The complete railway
89/336/EEC as amended by 92131/ interconnection of earthed systems
electrification network requires to
EEC has been legally adopted by (3) system operability and the
be monitored in terms of emissions
UK regulations under Statutory design differences between
and susceptibility to electromagnetic
Instrument (1992) No. 2372 'The rail return, auto feeding,
interference, conductive interference
EMC Regulations' and came into force booster return, single rail and
and radio frequency interference.
in 28 October 1992. The Directive double rail return systems.
This includes electrical circuits in the
applies to virtually all electrical and
supply of traction power, the control
electronic products and systems
of traction power, the operation of
for use in the European Union.
signalling, train control circuits, the
operation of telecommunication
systems and radio communications.
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73 Interfacing electrification and system reliability

The complications of railway earthing Specify design interface Safety Management System 15
are significant and the specific specification The Project Safety Management
requirements for traction power,
The railway administration should System (SMS) is part of the Quality
signalling, communications, LV
be aware of the requirements Assurance process that is required
and lightning earthing all have to
for integration, and it is their to address safety of humans. In an
be addressed by the project, with
responsibility to identify and include electrified railway the topics that
potentially different requirements
these criteria within the project need to be addressed include touch
for at grade, in tunnel and on
requirements at the definition stage. and accessible potential and the
viaduct sections. It should be noted
Interface requirements must then be risks associated with the malfunction
that the IEE Wiring Regulations
included within the Particular Design of signalling, and control systems
BS7671 is pertinent to stations,
Specifications for each contract. leading to multiple fatalities.
concourses and other buildings;
however, track, platforms, railway They should also make all System All potential safety hazards associated
traction equipment, rolling stock and Wide Contractors responsible for with the operation of the railway
signalling equipment are excluded. identifying interfaces, hazards and including the earthed infrastructure
for participating in the integration of the railway network should be
It is normal practice therefore for a methodology of the project. identified. The hazards associated
railway administration to produce an
If they fail to include this within with electrification supply points,
accompanying installation guideline
the particular specification, then overhead lines, traction return paths,
for contractors and maintainers.
the contractors will not be obliged operation of traction and rolling
Without such a code it is inevitable
to ensure that this integration stock, effects in depots and station
that earthing disturbances will
happens. The outcome of this can be stops etc need to be addressed.
occur. Examples of Company Code
of Practice are; Network Rail NR/ disastrous for the project programme To achieve this, experts in the fields
SP/ELP/21085, Channel Tunnel Rail and the railway administration, of electrification, earthing, signalling
Link 000-GDS-LCEEN-10041-05; which may be powerless to ensure and rolling stock are required to
Indian Railways AC Traction Manual that their multi-million pound be brought together to assess the
Appendix 11 code for bonding investment operates as intended. system behaviour under normal train
and earthing for 25kV AC 50Hz operation, under system faults and
single phase traction system.
Management of electrical systems all degraded modes of operation
The railway authority should specify of the electrification and signalling
Risk (commercial, the requirement for Management systems and the rolling stock.
operational, safety) Plans to address quality assurance
process and installation Codes of Design interface specifications
It has become the norm for railway
Practice. This is to ensure compliance Where there are known interfaces
contracts to be based along
with railway and national electrical these should be recorded in an
traditional engineering disciplines
and safety standards. This normally interface matrix and a specification
and interfaces; for example, wheel
becomes the responsibility of prepared between the two
to rail and pantograph interfaces.
the design and build contractor disciplines or contractors. Such
Railway authorities sometimes fail to
and has been addressed in more interfaces could also include the
recognise the complexity of electrical
detail later in this article. co-location of several different
interfaces and provide a solution to
manage the integration between railways at an interchange station.
different engineering disciplines. Design management An example of this is London,
The major cost element of a new responsibilities where various lines on the London
railway is the civils discipline; the Underground DC metro railway are
The preliminary and detailed design
electrical systems are a relatively small in close proximity to the 25 kV AC
stages of project management plans
portion when compared to the civil main line infrastructure. The interface
should be prepared to address the
infrastructure costs. However, failure specification should identify all of
above system interfaces. The following
to integrate the electrical systems the systems that may be affected.
are examples of management
will probably mean disruption to the plans that should be incorporated It is necessary that the responsibilities
whole project during commissioning within the overall systems for the identified hazards in the
and delay early operational service. engineering management plan. project are assigned an owner (and
Major Rail Projects are largely run accepted) and that the designer then
This is normally the responsibility of
by the Civil Engineering Discipline. mitigates any potential disturbance.
the Design and Build Contractors.
Rail Authorities often fail to provide It should also be remembered
adequate project management effort that utilities and neighbours must
to integrate the systems, placing the be considered when addressing
whole project programme at risk. interface specifications within
the railway environment.
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Interfacing electrification and system reliability 73

Integration Management Plan 6 The product standards provide Concluding remarks

emission and immunity tests under
The Electrical System Integration New railway projects and the
controlled environments. There
Management Plan should set privatisation of railways have divided
are additional requirements for
out a strategy to ensure correct contracts and the design process
large infrastructures that require
operation of equipment for the into separate engineering disciplines.
Installation Codes of Practice; this is
project life-cycle to ensure that Railway authorities need to recognise
often bespoke to the infrastructures
systems are integrated successfully. the importance of integrating
railway systems being designed. These
The following disciplines and systems Installation Codes of Practice are often the electrical systems. Failure to
should be included: traction power ignored by individual contractors who do so will have a subsequent
and electrification (both rail authority do not consider it there responsibility. consequence on delivering a railway
and public supply), signalling and free from electrical disturbances.
These Codes of Practice should be
control, telecommunications, rail This paper has endeavoured to
based on the requirements of the
vehicles, permanent-way and civils demonstrate how railway authorities
railway network, best practice in
infrastructure, and third parties. are being challenged by this difficult
EMC design, installation and the
Failure to integrate these electrical EN61000-5 series of standards. In task of integrating electrical systems.
systems properly will introduce designing a railway that operates This challenge will not be made any
the probability of an electrical or close to another railway, it is easier as client and public expectations
control system failure. This could necessary that reference is made to of new rail transit systems require
then have a subsequent disturbance local railway standards and codes the railway designers to incorporate
to the operation of the railway. of practice of both railways, as their more versatile and sophisticated
emissions will impinge on each other. electrified railway and tram networks.
Earthing Management Plan 4
Preparation of an EMC test
The content and detail should be specification should include EMC
Acknowledgements
based on previous experience of testing of individual apparatus and Information and guidance given
earthing other AC/DC railways and at the system level. Additionally in this paper are views held by the
the performance requirements of site measurements should be author. The author would like to
relevant national and international undertaken of radiated electric and thank Atkins (Rail) for its support
standards i.e. European Standard magnetic fields of the final installed and advice in writing this paper.
EN50122-1, and British Standards railway system along its route. The author and Atkins Rail accept
BS7671 and BS7430. no liability to anyone for any loss
It should set out a strategy DC Stray Current or damage caused by any error or
which ensures the management Management Plan 5,7 omission in the work, whether such
of interconnection of earths, The ‘stray current management error or omission is the result of
including: railway electrification and plan’ should provide guidance negligence or any other cause.
distribution systems, the distribution on the management framework,
network operator, the low voltage quality processes and deliverables
(LV) distribution earths, signalling that are required through the
earths, lightning conduction and design and installation stages of
other inter-system earths. a project. Specifically this plan
The requirements of utility should detail acceptable pass/fail
companies’ earthing practices and criteria for the level of stray current,
their connection to the railway need after construction is completed.
to be recognised and integrated. This plan should detail deliverables
An Earthing Management Plan including the ‘stray current code of
should include a ‘process’ to cover practice’, test plans and monitoring
requirements at design, installation plans. The Code of Practice should
and operational stages of the railway. provide detail of the design, based
on known proven technologies
Electromagnetic Compatibility and evidence of best practice e.g.
Management Plan 3,6 attention to electrical substation
connection, high rail insulation,
An EMC Management Plan is
good stray current collection, good
required and should be based on the
drainage construction supervision
requirements of EN50121, EN61000-5
and quality control by qualified
and EN61000-6. It should set out a
personnel, and the necessary
strategy for the project to ensure EMC
testing and monitoring system.
is achieved. It should identify a quality
assurance process including hazard
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identification, required deliverables,

roles and responsibilities, EMC
certification and test specifications.

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73 Interfacing electrification and system reliability

References
1. R D White. “The Challenges of Integrating an Electrified Railway”,
International Railway Journal, Sept 2006, pp 94-95;
2. IET Seminar on EMC in Railways 28 Sept 2006 ‘The new EMC Directive 2004/108/EC’ C Marshman;
3. BS EN50121 Parts 1-5 Title: Railway applications - electromagnetic compatibility;
4. BS EN50122-1 Railway applications, fixed installations, protective
provisions relating to electrical safety and earthing;
5. BS EN50122-2 Railway applications, fixed installations, protective provisions
against the effects of stray currents by D.C. traction Systems;
6. BS EN61000-5 Title: Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) - Part 5: Installation and mitigation guidelines;
7. BS EN50162 Railway Applications - protection against corrosion by stray current from DC systems;
8. BS EN61000 Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Limits, Testing;
9. BS EN50238 Railway applications - Compatibility between rolling stock and train detection systems;
10. BS 7671 The Wiring Regulations;
11. BS EN 50124-1:2001 Railway applications - Insulation coordination;
12. BS EN62305 Protection against lightning
13. BS EN61140 Protection against electric shock - Common aspects for installation and equipment
14. prEN50122-3 Railway applications - Fixed installations - Electrical safety, earthing and
the return circuit - Part 3: Mutual Interaction of a.c. and d.c. traction Systems.
15. ROGS The Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006
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