Unraveling the Mystery: How Trains Stay Safe on Electrified Tracks in Rain

Science
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News18•09-01-2026, 21:30
Unraveling the Mystery: How Trains Stay Safe on Electrified Tracks in Rain
- •Insulators made of porcelain or composite material prevent current from reaching iron poles, even in rain, due to their disc-shaped design.
- •Rainwater, despite impurities, doesn't form a continuous stream, making it difficult for 25,000 volts to reach the ground.
- •Train coaches act as a 'Faraday cage'; electricity flows on the outer surface of the metal body, protecting passengers inside.
- •Railway tracks and overhead wire poles are firmly 'earthed', directing accidental current into the ground, and circuit breakers cut power during faults.
- •The pantograph on the train roof is designed to reduce friction and deliver electricity safely, with transformers and fuses protecting the engine.
Why It Matters: Trains on overhead wires are safe in rain due to insulators, Faraday cages, earthing, and circuit breakers.
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