Traction Power

Our traction power services cover upgrading and improving the efficiency of mainline, metro and light rail projects.

Mott MacDonald offers a full range of engineering consultancy for all types of traction power applied to modern railway systems. Our services cover upgrading and improving the efficiency of both existing and new build railways whether mainline, metro or light rail and are carried out with a practical knowledge of our clients businesses. Our own inhouse developed, advanced validated simulation programme TRAIN optimises design with respect to power demand, regeneration, distribution and feeding arrangements, sectioning, earthing and bonding. Comprehensive expertise We provide a full range of expertise covering all aspects of fixed traction equipment and undertakes feasibility studies, outline and detailed design, project management, technical assistance and site supervision of installation, testing and commissioning. In connection with asset management, we carry out surveys for power supply sources, equipment locations and cable routes. We design AC and DC traction systems and overhead line electrification (OHLE), providing advice on the inter-relationship between modern traction equipment and signalling, including environmental impacts such as visual intrusion and noise. The avoidance of stray current in any railway system is a fundamental requirement and order to eliminate it we implement the following general principles: Minimise stray current at source and monitor where evident Return stray current safely to the substation Implement an effective earthing and bonding strategy Protect vulnerable structures

Our services AC and DC switchgear equipment Computer modelling and analysis Corrosion protection Earthing and bonding strategy Interfaces and compatibility Main grid power supplies Optimised substation design, site location and spacing Overhead line and third rail distribution Specialised support in rate negotiations Touch potential and stray current modelling Traction power simulation modelling for AC and DC systems

Mott MacDonald designs AC and DC traction systems and OHLE.

Our engineering staff optimise schemes for reinforcing traction supply and substations, including requirements of harmonic filters, incoming HV feeds, peak current control and modelling failure conditions. We apply these measures in the improvement of existing systems to assess the strategy of upgrading works for new capacity, higher reliability, complying with phase and harmonic conditions for the electrical supply authority and replacing obsolete equipment. TRAIN Every railway project, whether its a new or upgrade scheme, needs analysing to ensure that it will meet the operational demands imposed on it without compromising the efficiency of the rail system. At Mott MacDonald, we have developed our own computer program TRAIN to simulate these rail systems. Rolling stock fleet size, scheduling of train services, energy and power consumption and electrical traction system parameters must all be determined for a rail system to function properly. TRAIN serves as a complete analysis package to determine all of these requirements. One of TRAINs major benefits is its ability to simulate highly complex systems. The program is multimodal, capable of handling an unlimited number of junctions including complex configurations and will model any number of tracks and routes on a given system. Mixed passenger and freight railways with different traction characteristics and the effects of mixed-class rolling stock train formations can easily be modelled. TRAIN can validate timetables under different operating conditions to assess their suitability. We provide videos to clients to show the movements of trains thus enabling the interaction of trains along the routes to be observed and analysed. Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) In any rail system, EMC is a critical requirement as electrical and electronic apparatus can generate electromagnetic interference (EMI). This can cause apparatus to malfunction, resulting in unreliable and/or unsafe operation. Equipment can become more susceptible to EMI under certain conditions, such as when faults occur. These conditions need to be rigorously evaluated and documented as part of the safety case process. We undertake this by formal EMI processes, systematic EMI analysis of apparatus under all credible conditions, simulation and testing.

Our engineering staff optimise schemes for reinforcing traction supply and substations.

Contact us
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railways@mottmac.com train@mottmac.com

DC/05/09

We applied our own computer program, TRAIN, in the modelling of the Dublin LRT system to simulate and analyse the system.

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