Colour Themes

Style Switcher

Text Resize

Chapter-IX- Indian Electricity Rules

Indian electricity rules, 1956

Chapter-IX
Electric traction

94. Additional rules for electric traction

(1) The rules in this Chapter apply only where energy is used for purposes of traction:

PROVIDED that nothing in this Chapter shall apply to energy used for the public carriage of passengers, animals or goods on, or for the lighting or ventilation of the rolling stock of any railway or tramway subject to the provisions of the Indian Railways Act 1890 (IX of 1890)

(2) In this Chapter the conductor used for transmitting energy to a vehicle is referred to as the "line" and the other conductor as the "return".

(3) The owner of the line, return, rails or trolley-wire, as the case may be, shall be responsible for the due observance of rules 95 to 108.

95. Voltage of supply to vehicle

No person shall supply energy at high or extra-high voltage to any trolley-wire or other conductor used in direct electrical and mechanical connection with any vehicle, except with the written approval of the Central or the State Government, or other conductor used in direct electrical and mechanical connection with any vehicle, except with the written approval of the Central or the State Government, as the case may be, and subject to such conditions as the Central or the State Government may think reasonable and proper in the circumstances.

96. Insulation of lines

Every line shall be insulated throughout.

97. Insulation of returns.

(1) Where any rails on which cars run, or any conductors laid between or within 0.9 metre of such rails, form any part of a return, such part may be uninsulated. All other returns or parts of a return, shall be insulated, unless they are of such conductivity as to secure the conditions required by sub-rules (2) and (3) of rule 98.

(2) Where any part of a return is uninsulated, it shall be connected with the negative or neutral of the system.

98. Proximity to metallic pipes, etc.

(1) Where an uninsulated return is in proximity to any metallic pipe, structure or substance, not belonging to the owner of the return, he shall, if so required by the owner of such pipe, structure or substance, connect his return therewith at the latter's expense.

(2) Where the return is partly or entirely uninsulated, the owner shall, in the construction and maintenance of his system, adopt such means for reducing the difference produced by the current between the potential of the uninsulated return at anyone point and the potential of the uninsulated return at any other point as to ensure that the difference of potential between the uninsulated return and any metallic pipe, structure or substance in the vicinity shall not exceed four volts where the return is relatively positive, or one and one-third volts where the return is relatively negative.

(3) The owner of any such pipe, structure or substance as is referred to in sub-rule (2) may, in respect of it, require the owner of the uninsulated return at reasonable times and intervals to ascertain by test in his presence, or in that of his representative, whether that condition specified in sub-rule (2) is fulfilled; and, if such condition is found to be fulfilled, all reasonable expenses of, and incidental to, the carrying out of the test shall be borne by the owner of the pipe, structure or substance.

99. Difference of potential on return

Where the return is partly of entirely uninsulated, the owner shall keep a continuous record of the difference of potential, during the working of his system, between every junction of an insulated return with an uninsulated return and the point on the route most distant from that junction, and the difference of potential shall not, under normal running conditions, exceed a mean value of seven volts between the highest momentary peak and the average for the hour of maximum load.

100. Leakage on conduit system

Where both the line and the return are placed within a conduit, the following conditions shall be fulfilled in the construction and maintenance of the system:-

(a) where the rails are used to form any part of the return, they shall be electrically connected ( at distances not exceeding 30 metres apart ), with the conduit by means of copper strips having a cross-sectional area of at least 0.40 sq. cm., or by other means of equal conductivity. Where the return is wholly insulated and contained within the conduit, the latter shall be connected with earth at the generating station or sub-station through an instrument suitable for the indication of any contact or partial contact of either the line or the return with the conduit; and

(b) the leakage-current shall be ascertained daily, before or after the hours of running, when the line is fully charged; and if at any time it is found to exceed 0.6 ampere per km. of single tramway track, the transmission and use of energy shall be suspended unless the leakage is stopped within twenty-four hours.

101. Leakage on system other than conduit system

Where both the line and the return are not placed within a conduit, the leakage-current shall be ascertained daily before or after the hours of running, when the line is fully charged; and if at any time it is found to exceed 0.3 ampere per km. of single tramway track, the transmission an4 use of energy shall be suspended unless the leakage is stopped within twenty-fl11ur hours.

102. Passengers not to have access to electric circuit

Precautions to the satisfaction of an Inspector shall be taken by the owner of every vehicle to prevent:

(a) the access of passengers to any portion of the electric circuit where there is danger from electric shock;

(b) any mental, hand-rail or other metallic substance liable to be handled by passengers, becoming charged.

103. Current density in rails

Where rails on which cars run are used as a return, the current density in such rails, shall not under ordinary working conditions, exceed 1.4 amperes per sq.cm. of cross-sectional area.

104. Isolation of sections

Every trolley-wire shall be constructed in sections not exceeding 1.6 km. in length, and means shall be provided for isolating each section.

105. Minimum size and strength of trolley-wire

No trolley-wire shall be of less cross-sectional area than 0.5 sq. cm. or shall have an actual breaking load of less than 2000 kg.

106. Height of trolley-wire and length of span

A trolley-wire or a traction feeder on the same supports as a trolley-nowhere be at a height from the surface of the street of less than 5.2 metres except, where it passes under a bridge or other fixed structure, or through or along a tunnel or mine-shaft or the like in which case it shall be suspended to the satisfaction of an Inspector

107. Earthing of guard wires

Every guard wire shall be connected with earth at each point at which its electrical continuity is broken also connected with rails at intervals more than five spans

1107A. Proximity to magnetic observatories and laboratories

Traction works shall not be carried out in the vicinity of geomagnetic observatories and laboratories without the concurrence of the Central Government or of any officer authorised by it in this behalf.

108. Records

(1) The owner shall, so far as is consistent with his system of working, keep the following records, namely: 

(a) daily records showing-

(i) the maximum working current from the source of supply;

(ii) the maximum working voltage at the source of supply;

(iii) the difference of potential, as required by rule 99; and

(iv) the leakage current (if any), as required by rule 100 and rule 101,

(b) occasional records showing:-

(i) every test made under sub-rules (2) and (3) of rule 98;

(ii) every stoppage of leakage, together with the time occupied; and

(iii) particulars of any abnormal occurrence affecting the electrical working of the system.

(2) Such records shall be open to examination by an Inspector or by any person authorised in writing by an Inspector.


1 InsertedbyGSR523, dt. 28-3-1966, w.e.f. 9-4-1966.

Back To Previous Page | Page last updated date: 01-12-2020
Top