Pantograph/Overhead line Interaction - Contact Strip/Wire Interaction Materials (CoStrlM) - Results of bench tests and conclusions

The railways use different voltages and frequencies (AC 25 kV 50 Hz, AC 15 kV 16,7Hz, DC 3 kV and DC 1,5 kV) to operate electric railway vehicles; therefore it is necessary to use different materials for the contact strips and catenary contact wires. In addition many countries do not allow the use of certain combinations of materials for those two elements due to the lack of experience as to their wear behaviour.

The aim of this project is to identify the best combinations of materials for contact strips and wires on different networks, and describe the interaction between contact strip and wire in terms of wear and deterioration over time. Once this objective has been met it will be possible to enhance the content of UIC Leaflets 608 and 794-1 and amend the EN 50367 and EN 50405 standards.

The present report contains the results from tests performed on two different benches (Hoffmann et Polimi) and a comparison of these results with the data collected via the questionnaire (UIC Report A 186/RP 11).