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News1809-01-2026, 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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