Can you die or even get an electric shock from train tracks?

Question

I'm from Australia and was just wondering if you can get an electric shock or even die from touching the wrong line???

Out in the open, when you hop a fence and run across the railway tracks I've never had electric shock, but I thought I've heard of people being hurt from it ??

Or is this only for subway trains??

Are there actually live tracks??

Answer 1

I dont know of any electric "3rd rail" tracks in Australia, although there may be some innercity metro type lines.

The operating rail that the wheels run on is never electrified, it is the "3rd rail" right next to the operating rails that will be electrified, it looks definitly different and if you touch that you will be electrocuted.

While you are looking down for an electrified rail, please please be sure to keep looking up, trains can be deceptively quiet, especially if running downhill or coasting and we dont want anyone ran over.

stastically, you have a larger chance of getting hig than electrocuted by tracks.

Answer 2

Here in the UK as a general rule if there are more than 2 rails then yes, its likely that the track will be live. I work for the railways and the policy is 'DO NOT STEP ON ANY RAIL'. If you dont touch them they can't hurt you!

Answer 3

In Sydney Australia, because of the over head electrified wire, if there is a train within the section and you are touching both rails, then yeah. You're toast.

Answer 4

It is extremely dangerous to cross rail lines except at proper places like bridges and level crossings. People can and do get killed ignoring this rule.

Some lines have electric rails charged at e.g. around 650 volts as on many metro lines and this is enough to fry you alive if you come into contact with it.

Rail lines with overhead wires are charged at extremely high voltages e.g. 25,000 and at this high the charge can actually arc through space if you come near the wire without even touching it.

Hence the many warning notices at or near railway lines and on trains, and remember, even if you don't end up dead you risk being arrested, fined and possibly imprisoned for trespassing on railway property.

Answer 5

It would depend where in Australia of course. In Queensland there are some areas of overhead electrified railway lines (at a voltage of 25kv AC) which although the current runs through overhead wires, it is still possible to be electrocuted via the actual rails, if a train is in the vicinity and is making the connection between wires and rails. It's the rails which make the circuit complete, after all.

The Sydney Light Rail is also overhead wires, at 750v DC, so same could apply, while the Melbourne Tram system is 600v DC overhead. DC voltage can actually be more dangerous as it may cause the person it electrocutes to grip tightly onto the (in this case) wires or rail.

To my knowledge there are no electrified conductor rail (i.e 3rd or 4th rail alongside the running rails) systems in Australia.

Having said all that, it's much better to avoid stepping directly on rails anywhere, just in case. They can also be slippery...! Step over the rails and be as careful as possible.

Answer 6

Unless there's a third rail for an electric train, any metal at ground level SHOULDN'T be energized.  On the other hand, in Hillsboro Oregon there's a light rail line that's electric with an overhead powerline (catenary).  Seeing eye dogs are afraid of the tracks there because some sort of weird malfunction causes the regular rails to zap them.  Engineers looked at the problem and couldn't figure it out.  No humans have been hurt though.

Answer 7

Sure, anytime a railroad is electrified, the running rails are the return circuit.  It's not supposed to be lethal, but there can be all sorts of currents running through the rail, and any defect "might" create a hazardous situation.  

If there's a third rail, set above and away from the running rails, that definitely has lethal current on it.

Anyway, you should never step on any rail, because they are slippery.  Step over them, the hazard of tripping is much less than the hazard of slipping.  Ask any pro.

Answer 8

In Britain there certainly are live tracks. Almost all the trains running to the South and South East and South West of  London  to the south coast and out as far as Bournemouth and Weymouth in Dorset from terminals such as  Victoria and Waterloo run on the "three rail system" with the trains wheels using two rails while a third electrified rail, powers the trains' motors through

pick ups located on the trains' underside. Elsewhere in Britain trains either run from diesel power or more conventional overhead electric cables with power being picked up by catenaries on the trains' roof.

Answer 9

No, that is subway tracks with the third rail.  Out in the country where you might be fencing hoping is rail that is operating by diesel electric power.  In other words, there's no source of power in the rails because the locomotives use diesel engines to generate power and electricity in a self contained system.

However, yes you can die from being on these tracks.  I see it quite a bit in my line of work.  Stay off the tracks.  If you must cross look both ways.  And move along quickly across.   Don't walk down the middle of tracks, through tunnels or across bridges.

Answer 10

If your referring to your average rail that amtrack and freight trains use, the answer is no.. the only current that runs through these types of rail is a very very low current that you find at Highway crossings at grade (your everyday rail road crossing) and this current is what sends the signal to the gates to make them drop.. but this current is so low that it is impossible to even feel it if you touch the rail much less die