Much has been written to address various aspects of designing heavy-rail DC transit systems to minimize stray current interference1, 2. Most modern heavy-rail DC transit systems are designed with ungrounded traction power distribution systems to control stray current at the source. As a transit system ages, sustaining the stray current mitigation near the as-constructed condition requires a coordinated effort that involves the transit agency and operators of neighboring structures. This paper briefly discusses some design features of an ungrounded traction power distribution system and the stray current that can be produced by DC transit operations. Guidelines are then presented as tools for the development of a coordinated effort to meet the challenges of sustaining effective stray current control.

Subject
Electric current, Steel structures, Rail, Substations, Isolation, Structures, Traction, Personnel, Isolation joints, Stray current, Corrosion protection, Maintenance, Fasteners
Keywords:
DC transit system, stray current, mitigation, traction power distribution, interference, track-to-earth resistance, track-to-earth potential, coordinated effort, education, communication
© 2010 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
2010
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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