EN 50163:2004/A3:2022
(Amendment)Railway applications - Supply voltages of traction systems
Railway applications - Supply voltages of traction systems
This European Standard specifies the main characteristics of the supply voltages of traction systems, such as traction fixed installations, including auxiliary devices fed by the contact line, and rolling stock, for use in the following applications : – railways; – guided mass transport systems such as tramways, elevated and underground railways mountain railways, and trolleybus systems; – material transportation systems. This European Standard does not apply to – mine traction systems in underground mines, – cranes, transportable platforms and similar transportation equipment on rails, temporary structures (e.g. exhibition structures) in so far as these are not supplied directly or via transformers from the contact line system and are not endangered by the traction power supply system, – suspended cable cars, – funicular railways. This European Standard deals with long term overvoltages as shown in the Annex A.
Bahnanwendungen - Speisespannungen von Bahnnetzen
Applications ferroviaires - Tensions d'alimentation des réseaux de traction
Železniške naprave - Napajalne napetosti sistemov električne vleke - Dopolnilo A3
General Information
Relations
Overview
EN 50163:2004/A3:2022 (CLC) defines the main characteristics of supply voltages used in traction systems for railways and guided mass transport. The amendment A3 updates normative references, clarifies frequency provisions and testing references for rolling stock, and updates the informative Annex ZZ linking the standard with EU interoperability requirements. The standard addresses contact line-fed fixed installations, auxiliary devices and rolling stock while excluding specific systems such as mine traction and funicular railways.
Keywords: traction supply voltages, rolling stock, contact line, interoperability, frequency tolerance, overvoltages, railway applications
Key Topics
Scope and applicability
- Applies to railways and guided mass transport systems (tramways, metros, trolleybuses, mountain railways and similar systems) and material transportation systems.
- Excludes mine traction systems, suspended cable cars, funiculars and certain temporary or non-directly supplied equipment.
Voltage characteristics and coordination
- Specifies the main characteristics of supply voltages for traction systems and connected auxiliary equipment.
- Addresses long-term overvoltages (see Annex A of the standard).
Frequency and tolerances
- Confirms use of EN 50160:2010 as the reference for supply-frequency characteristics.
- Notes practical frequency tolerances used in Europe for common systems: 15 kV 16.7 Hz systems (16.17 Hz to 17 Hz) and 25 kV/50 Hz systems (49 Hz to 51 Hz). Out-of-range frequencies can reduce vehicle performance or require drive disconnection; effects on signalling should be examined by operators.
Testing and references
- Rolling stock testing reference updated to EN 50215:2009 clause 9.16.
- Several normative references were revised to reflect current public network and rolling stock test standards.
Applications
EN 50163:2004/A3:2022 is used by:
- Infrastructure owners and power-supply engineers to specify contact line and substation interfaces.
- Rolling stock manufacturers and maintenance teams to ensure compatibility with supply voltage characteristics and frequency tolerances.
- System integrators and safety assessors evaluating interoperability, signalling impacts and long-term overvoltage resilience.
Benefits include:
- Clear guidance for consistent voltage and frequency coordination across networks.
- Support for interoperability and compliance with EU technical specifications for the energy subsystem.
- Practical reference for testing rolling stock interaction with traction power supplies.
Related Standards
- EN 50160:2010 - Voltage characteristics of electricity supplied by public electricity networks
- EN 50215:2009 - Rolling stock testing on completion of construction and before entry into service
- EN 50119, EN 50122-1, EN 50388 - Other railway power supply and protective provisions referenced in the amendment
For regulatory context, see informative Annex ZZ which outlines the relationship between this standard and Directive (EU) 2016/797 on rail system interoperability. For implementation and national adoption details consult your national CENELEC member body.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-junij-2023
Železniške naprave - Napajalne napetosti sistemov električne vleke - Dopolnilo A3
Railway applications - Supply voltages of traction systems
Bahnanwendungen - Speisespannungen von Bahnnetzen
Applications ferroviaires - Tensions d'alimentation des réseaux de traction
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 50163:2004/A3:2022
ICS:
29.280 Električna vlečna oprema Electric traction equipment
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 50163:2004/A3
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM August 2022
ICS 29.280
English Version
Railway applications - Supply voltages of traction systems
Applications ferroviaires - Tensions d'alimentation des Bahnanwendungen - Speisespannungen von Bahnnetzen
réseaux de traction
This amendment A3 modifies the European Standard EN 50163:2004; it was approved by CENELEC on 2022-07-04. CENELEC members
are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this amendment the status of a
national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This amendment exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the
responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as
the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2022 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN 50163:2004/A3:2022 E
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Modification to Clause 2, “Normative references” . 4
2 Modification to 4.2, “Frequency” . 4
3 Modification to 6.1.1, “Rolling stock” . 5
4 Modification to Annex ZZ, “Relationship between this European standard and the essential
requirements of EU Directive 2016/797/EU [2016 OJ L138] aimed to be covered” . 5
Annex ZZ (informative) Relationship between this European Standard and the Essential
Requirements of EU Directive (EU) 2016/797 aimed to be covered . 6
5 Modification to the Bibliography . 7
European foreword
This document (EN 50163:2004/A3:2022) has been prepared by SC 9XC “Electric supply and earthing systems
for public transport equipment and ancillary apparatus (fixed installations)”, of CLC/TC 9X “Electrical and
electronic applications for railways”.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which this document has to be (dop) 2023-07-04
implemented at national level by publication of
an identical national standard or by
endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards (dow) 2025-07-04
conflicting with this document have to be
withdrawn
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document has been prepared under a Standardization Request given to CENELEC by the European
Commission and the European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU Directive(s)
/ Regulation(s).
For relationship with EU Directive(s) / Regulation(s), see informative Annex ZZ, which is an integral part of this
document.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national committee. A complete
listing of these bodies can be found on the CENELEC website.
1 Modification to Clause 2, “Normative references”
Delete the following references:
EN 50119, Railway applications – Fixed installations - Electric traction overhead contact lines
EN 50122-1:1997, Railway applications – Fixed installations – Part 1: Protective provisions relating to electrical
safety and earthing
1)
EN 50388 , Railway applications – Power supply and rolling stock – Technical criteria for the coordination
between power supply (substation) and rolling stock to achieve interoperability
IEC 60050-811, International Electrotechnical vocabulary - Chapter 811: Electric traction
Replace the following references:
EN 50160:1999, Voltage characteristics of electricity supplied by public distribution systems
EN 50215:1999, Rail
...
Frequently Asked Questions
EN 50163:2004/A3:2022 is a amendment published by CLC. Its full title is "Railway applications - Supply voltages of traction systems". This standard covers: This European Standard specifies the main characteristics of the supply voltages of traction systems, such as traction fixed installations, including auxiliary devices fed by the contact line, and rolling stock, for use in the following applications : – railways; – guided mass transport systems such as tramways, elevated and underground railways mountain railways, and trolleybus systems; – material transportation systems. This European Standard does not apply to – mine traction systems in underground mines, – cranes, transportable platforms and similar transportation equipment on rails, temporary structures (e.g. exhibition structures) in so far as these are not supplied directly or via transformers from the contact line system and are not endangered by the traction power supply system, – suspended cable cars, – funicular railways. This European Standard deals with long term overvoltages as shown in the Annex A.
This European Standard specifies the main characteristics of the supply voltages of traction systems, such as traction fixed installations, including auxiliary devices fed by the contact line, and rolling stock, for use in the following applications : – railways; – guided mass transport systems such as tramways, elevated and underground railways mountain railways, and trolleybus systems; – material transportation systems. This European Standard does not apply to – mine traction systems in underground mines, – cranes, transportable platforms and similar transportation equipment on rails, temporary structures (e.g. exhibition structures) in so far as these are not supplied directly or via transformers from the contact line system and are not endangered by the traction power supply system, – suspended cable cars, – funicular railways. This European Standard deals with long term overvoltages as shown in the Annex A.
EN 50163:2004/A3:2022 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 29.280 - Electric traction equipment. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN 50163:2004/A3:2022 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 50163:2004. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN 50163:2004/A3:2022 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 2016/797/EU; Standardization Mandates: M/483, M/591. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.
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