ABB has been awarded a £600,000 contract to provide three specialist 26MVA, 132/25kV single-phase railway transformers to Central Networks. The transformers will be installed at trackside substations in Kidsgrove and Tamworth and will supply power to Network Rail.
The UK product marketing manager for ABB Power Transformers, David Sullivan, said: “Short circuits are a relatively rare occurrence for a normal grid transformer. But a rail transformer is effectively subjected to a short-circuit current of between six to 10kA every time a train goes past. This calls for a highly developed and very robust design.”
Sullivan says ABB’s track record as the UK market leader in rail transformers combined with a proven short-circuit test record persuaded Central Networks and Network Rail to use ABB’s products.