Auxiliary power systems for rolling stock

Trains have always had a requirement for auxiliary power. As the facilities provided on board have increased, so have the requirements for auxiliary power. Modern trains have a high demand for auxiliary power for train control systems, passenger amenities and train crew facilities. This paper will briefly review the evolution of auxiliary power systems before examining the key requirements of a modern system, and some of the methods employed to meet these requirements. The paper is written from a viewpoint of railway operations and fleet maintenance and does not cover technical details of power conversion equipment in any detail