Monitoring the energy consumption in DC railways

Low voltage DC powered railway systems have significant losses in the power network. This paper presents interim results from a project which aims to measure simultaneously the power output from substations and power input to vehicles. Data have been recorded in initial instrumentation test runs on both a vehicle and two substations. The instrumentation system performed adequately and the quality and accuracy of the data are appropriate to meet the overall objectives of the study. It is possible to see details in the current waveforms, such as notching currents, from the instrumentation located on board the train and at the substations.