Which is better ...overheard catenary or third rail?

Question

Which is better ...overheard catenary or third rail?

Answer 1

Is it best for lowest initial cost with more expense to maintain.

or

Is it best for highest cost to install with less cost to maintain?

Is it best for low speed small trains with frequent stops and restricted clearance (and iterruppted power every switch)

or

Is it best for heavy trains, high speeds and open territory (and contiuous contact at every switch)?

Answer 2

over head cat pulls a lot more power and speed. 25,000 volts in NJ..... easy to do a fast acceleration. Thrid rail not even close to that power.

Answer 3

3rd rail seems to be more technically reliable in the U.K. but it can't seem to support speeds above 100 m.p.h. Therefore on the electrified  higher speed Inter City Routes where speeds up to 125 m.p.h need to be achieved by trains, overhead catenary is used. Throughout the rest of Europe the overhead catenary system seems to be in universal use for all types of rail operation.

Answer 4

Depends what for and where.

Overhead is more vulnerable to damage and costs more to install, is able to supply more power for higher speed running, and means people can walk on or by the tracks without risk of being electrocuted.

Third rail is therefore more suited to fulled fenced-in systems with relatively low running speeds, such as suburban operations.