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Article: Has DC traction power had its day? A section of U-Bahn tunnel in Berlin that for a time will be isolated from the rest of the network is to be used for an experiment that could change the face of metros worldwide.(Rapid transit: Berlin)
- Article from:
- International Railway Journal
- Article date:
- September 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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WHAT is believed to be the world's first prototype test installation to use unconverted ac power from the public network to supply metro trains is being developed in the German capital. It could be the start of a revolution for the universal application of ac power through the third rail or catenary that would drive down the cost of both infrastructure and rolling stock significantly.
The process between the public power supply and the traction motor of a metro train goes from ac to dc current and then back to ac again, a situation described as "absolutely senseless and really expensive" by Mr Thomas Necker, a member of the board of directors of Berlin Transport ...