Railways are relied upon as a means for transporting passengers and goods with electricity being used as a reliable source of power to ensure an efficient mass transportation system.  Traction power substations and overhead catenary systems are used to deliver the incoming commercial electrical supply to a form usable by the railway system.  In developing solutions for railway electrification systems, we recognize their extra heavy duty power requirements and the need to develop compliant turnkey solutions that encompass feasibility studies, design, AC/DC power system studies, system protection, startup, commissioning, and system integration aspects.

Traction electrification systems for railways require specialized facilities to enable the movement of trains in a reliable manner. A traction power substation (TPSS) must be able to determine the difference between allowable heavy-duty overload conditions and track fault conditions. In order to do so, appropriate equipment selections such as rectifier-transformers, rectifiers, frequency converters, AC overcurrent protection systems, and DC rate-of-rise protection systems are required. A railway electrification system must be able to accommodate simultaneous train start events at both distant and nearby locations. We recognize these requirements, which are unique to railway electrification, and develop electrical power solutions to fulfill these requirements.

Our capabilities include:

  • AC Switchgear

  • DC Switchgear

  • Rectifier-Transformers

  • Rectifier Systems

  • Frequency Converters

  • Power System Studies

Our project experience:

  • PATH Substation No. 7 (Jersey City, NJ). AC & DC short circuit, coordination, arc flash studies for new traction power substation. Scope included new AC switchgear lineups, rectifier-transformers, rectifiers, DC switchgear, low-voltage distribution system, and associated protective relay programming. (Learn More)

  • PATH Substation No. 8 (Kearny, NJ). Startup, commissioning, and IV&V services for new traction power substation. Scope included new AC switchgear lineups, rectifier-transformers, rectifiers, DC switchgear, low-voltage distribution system, and SCADA system.

  • Seattle Monorail (Seattle, WA). AC & DC power system studies and system integration for upgraded traction power substation. Scope included new AC switchgear lineups, rectifier-transformers, rectifiers, DC switchgear lineups, and low-voltage distribution system.

  • WMATA Silver Line (Northern VA). System integration for six (6) railway stations associated with the new Silver Line (Phase 2 Extension). Scope included protective relay programming, protective relay testing, SCADA connectivity, and protection system commissioning.

  • NJT Meadows Complex (Kearny, NJ). Short circuit, coordination, and arc flash studies associated with the upgraded railway maintenance and control facilities. Scope included substation transformer, main switchgear, portable generator connection cabinet, and low voltage distribution system.

  • AMTRAK Ivy City (Washington DC). Engineering design-assist services to support the new AMTRAK high speed rail facilities. Scope included grounding grid design, power system studies, shop drawing review, and RFI review.

  • WMATA Red/Green/Orange Lines TPSS (DC/MD/VA). AC short circuit, coordination, and arc flash studies for eleven (11) new traction power substations. Scope included new AC switchgear lineups, rectifier-transformers, and low-voltage distribution system.