200811 – Stelmach – Proposed Electric Traction System for Auckland

The electrification of the Auckland passenger service is one of the biggest transport infrastructure projects undertaken by the government of New Zealand.

The Auckland Electrified Area (AEA) consists of approximately 175 Single Track Kilometres over five
existing, yet to be built and upgraded railway lines.

This paper describes the general requirement for the railway fixed electrical infrastructure and then discusses the applied process and tools used to determine the most appropriate traction system for the Auckland electrification. It also points to the challenges encountered and solutions found during that process.