Up_Tilt_390
Member
- Joined
- 10 Oct 2015
- Messages
- 923
This is actually the most simple question I've asked on the forums. But I ask because I look at countries like France and the Netherlands, and every electrified railway they have is the system AC Overhead wires, whether it be 3kV or 25kV wires, and third rail is mostly limited to smaller systems.
For example, even Paris' RER Rapid Transit system is powered by overhead lines, and the only third rail powered system I've seen in France is the Paris Metro. Metro systems seem to be the only time third rail is used in Europe to my knowledge. On the contrary, pretty much all of the electrified railway in the south aside from HS1 is powered by third rail, and Merseyrail of course.
Am I seriously wrong and missing a lot of systems, or does the UK really have the largest third rail network in Europe/world?
For example, even Paris' RER Rapid Transit system is powered by overhead lines, and the only third rail powered system I've seen in France is the Paris Metro. Metro systems seem to be the only time third rail is used in Europe to my knowledge. On the contrary, pretty much all of the electrified railway in the south aside from HS1 is powered by third rail, and Merseyrail of course.
Am I seriously wrong and missing a lot of systems, or does the UK really have the largest third rail network in Europe/world?