The traction power supply system mainly refers to two parts: the traction substation and the contact network.
The substation is located near the railway, and it will transmit the electrical energy from the power plant through high-voltage transmission lines to the overhead contact network above the railway. The contact network is a device that directly transmits electrical energy to electric locomotives. Along both sides of the railway line, there is a row of pillars suspended with metal wires, known as the contact network, which can also be seen as the artery of electrified railways. Electric locomotives use the pantograph on the roof to obtain electrical energy from the overhead contact network and tow trains for operation. There are two types of traction power supply systems based on the current system of the contact network: DC system and AC system. The direct current system is a type of current system that supplies high voltage and three-phase electricity to the contact network after voltage reduction and rectification in the traction substation. It is the earliest developed current system and has been less used since the 1950s. AC system refers to the process of reducing the voltage of high-voltage and three-phase power in a substation and converting it into single-phase, and then supplying AC power to the contact network. The AC system has a high power supply voltage and is developing rapidly. The traction power supply system of China's electrified railways has been adopting a single-phase power frequency (50 Hz) 25 kV AC system from the beginning, which is conducive to the development of electrified railways in the future.
Unlike traditional railways that use steam or diesel locomotives to pull trains, electrified railways refer to railways that obtain electrical energy from external power sources and traction power supply systems and use electric locomotives to pull trains for operation. It includes electric locomotives, locomotive facilities, traction power supply systems, various power devices, and corresponding railway communication, signal and other equipment. Electrified railways have the advantages of large transportation capacity, fast driving speed, low energy consumption, low operating costs, and good working conditions. Electrification of trunk railways with large traffic volume and mountainous trunk railways with steep slopes and long tunnels has obvious technological and economic advantages.