Characteristics of overhead rigid conductor line having T-type cross section

In Japan, rigid conductor system is classified into 2 kinds of a third rail, and an overhead rigid conductor line. The overhead rigid conductor line is widely used for underground railways because it has merits such as no breaking of a conductor, smaller tunnel cross section area, and is maintenance-free. Under the narrow-gauge railway structure regulations in Japan, the third rail has no speed limit but the overhead rigid conductor line is limited to under 90 km/h and the interval between its support points must be under 6 m. On the other hand, catenary systems in Japan aim at speeds up to 130-160 km/h and overhead rigid conductor in Swiss National Railway sets 150 km/h as maximum speed. We installed about 100 m aluminium overhead rigid conductor line having T-type cross section, which has T-type cross sectional area and is used on the Eidan Underground Railway in Japan. We carried out its tests in order to confirm the effect of support point interval limited to 5-9 m, classification of pantograph, and expansion joint structures, on the current collection performance