Dual electrification
Dual electrification is a system whereby a railway line is supplied power both via overhead catenary and a third rail. This is done to enable trains that use either system of power to share the same railway line, for example in the case of mainline and suburban trains.
Examples
Germany
- Line S3 of the Hamburg S-Bahn changeover at Neugraben.
- Birkenwerder station to be used by Berlin S-Bahn lines S1 and S8 and regional train RB20
Greece
- Line 3 of Athens Metro uses third rail for the underground sections and an overhead power supply on the surface for access to and from the Airport.
Norway
- between Jar station and Bekkestua station, where metro line 3 and tram line 13 share tracks
United Kingdom
- North London Line changeover at Acton Central, London.
- Northern City Line changeover at Drayton Park, London.
- Thameslink route changeover at City Thameslink and Farringdon, London.
- West London line changeover between Willesden Junction and Shepherd's Bush, London.
- High Speed 1 changeover at platforms 5 and 6 of Ebbsfleet International, Kent.
United States
- South of Pelham station, where New Haven Line's M8's change from 3rd rail to catenary and vice versa.
- Pennsylvania Station (New York City)
- East River Tunnels between Queens and Manhattan in New York City, NY
- North River Tunnels between Weehawken, NJ and New York City, NY
- Like Athens, the MBTA Blue Line uses third rail for the underground part, and switches to overhead catenary power at Airport station.