Railway Applications — Supply voltages of traction systems

Scope

Defines the nominal supply voltages of European traction power systems (DC 600 V, 750 V, 1.5 kV and 3 kV; AC 15 kV 16.7 Hz and 25 kV 50 Hz) and the permissible permanent and non-permanent voltage ranges measured at the pantograph or contact shoe and at substation busbars. It is the compatibility baseline between traction fixed installations and rolling stock, referenced by the Energy TSI and used by infrastructure managers, power supply designers and vehicle suppliers. IEC twin: IEC 60850.

EN 50163 defines the nominal supply voltages used across European railway traction power systems -- including DC systems at 600 V, 750 V, 1.5 kV and 3 kV, and AC systems at 15 kV 16.7 Hz and 25 kV 50 Hz -- together with the permissible permanent and non-permanent voltage variation ranges that must be measured at the pantograph or contact shoe on vehicles and at substation busbars on the fixed installation side. It provides the electrical compatibility baseline between traction power supply infrastructure and rolling stock, ensuring that equipment designed to one voltage system's tolerances will operate correctly when connected to that system anywhere in Europe. Infrastructure managers, power supply system designers and rolling stock suppliers reference it when specifying substation and on-board electrical equipment, and it is referenced directly by the energy subsystem TSI as the mandatory voltage framework for new and upgraded electrification. The standard's international counterpart is IEC 60850, which mirrors its voltage system definitions for markets outside the CENELEC area. The current edition in force is EN 50163:2004+A3:2022.