T1244 Characterising the Pantograph and Overhead Contact System

Background

As new electric rolling stock is introduced or existing rolling stock is assigned to different routes, compatibility assessments between the vehicle and infrastructure are undertaken to ensure safe working at the pantograph-catenary interface. Analysis is usually undertaken on a case by case basis utilising expert analysis, data and validated software models. This process can add cost and potentially a significant time delay on the critical path to introducing new rolling stock.

Over the coming years, a large number of new rolling stock is planned to be introduced across the network, and with potentially increasing variability across designs (e.g. multiple pantographs and higher speeds), there will likely be a requirement for a lot more compatibility assessments.

Through the cross industry Vehicle - Traction Energy System Interface Committee (V/TE SIC), the rail industry has proposed research be undertaken to define reference cases of varying combinations of pantograph and overhead contact system interaction, to generalise compatibility assessment, with the aim to ultimately reduce costs and time taken in approving vehicles for new routes. This research project intends to test the suitability of a such a generalised approach and to populate a Compatibility Matrix of reference cases that can be used to expediate future assessments.

Objectives

This research is targeted at improving the industry's understanding of existing compatibility between legacy Overhead Contact Systems (OCS) and electric vehicles, and to provide an evidence base to potentially modify the challenging requirements in standards, specifically

Currently standards specify current collection criteria at the interface as opposed to being specified at the OCS or vehicle level meaning that many Full Compatibility Assessments are required as vehicles are cascaded across the network, often done on a case by case basis requiring testing and simulation on validated models with little applicability to other rolling stock.

The ambition of this project is to make introduction of new rolling stock quicker and cheaper by:

Ultimately this will benefit the industry through

Additional information: RSSB would like to invite suppliers to a pre-tender meeting on Wednesday 3rd February 2021 from 13:00-14:30. The meeting will be held remotely on Microsoft Teams (attendees will be issued with an invite to the Microsoft Teams meeting once they have confirmed their attendance).

Suppliers wishing to attend the event must confirm the name and email address of all attendees to Tanja.Odinsen@rssb.co.uk, you will then be issued with an invite to the meeting