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Electrification of Railways: Report of a Committee Appointed by the Railway Executive and the London Transport Executive

Document Summary

The 1951 Report examined electrification systems with a view to standardisation, and concluded that although the 3000V DC system had become more attractive in recent years, it had advantages over the 1500V system only in areas of relatively high traffic. Standard voltage was to remain at 1500V with overhead contacts, but areas served by third rail at 750V DC, and some adjacent areas, would continue as such. In view of its advantages in dense traffic, the fourth rail system would continue on the London Transport system and its extensions.

This document was published in 1951 by British Transport Commission.

It was written by British Transport Commission.

The original document format was bound book, and comprised 106 pages.

This document was kindly sourced from Archive Collection and is in our Financial & economic reports collection. It was added to the Archive on 15th July 2008.

Copyright Information

This document is © BRB (Residuary) Ltd.

"In April, 1948, the British Transport Commission invited the Railway and London Transport Executives to appoint a Committee of technical, operating and other representatives, with the object of reviewing the methods of electric operation employed on the railways now under their control, and the system or systems to be adopted in future electrification schemes.

The Executives appointed a joint Committee of officers and, with the concurrence of the Commission, subsequently added to their number a distinguished consulting electrical engineer, Mr. F. Lydall, of Messrs. Merz & McLellan, whose recent death is much regretted.

The Executives have now accepted in principle the Committee's Report and commended it to the Commission. It confirms the main conclusions contained in the Pringle Committee's Report of 1927, but contains a valuable study of technical developments in this country and elsewhere in the intervening years, and in general is of such importance and interest that the Commission think it proper to make it available for general information.

It will be observed that the Committee recommends that the direct current system with an overhead line at 1,500 volts should be adopted as standard in all future electrification schemes, except as regards an area to be earmarked for the third rail system of the former Southern Railway. The commission endorse the reservations stated in the report with regard to any such third rail area, the exact boundaries of which on the western side must the subject of further consideration. The only other exception would comprise areas within which the fourth rail system may be employed, i.e., additions to lines operated by London Transport and also possibly in self-contained and purely urban systems in the provinces."