PANTOGRAPHS-OCE-CONTACT STRIP MATERIALS

Faiveley has designed and developed current collection systems in close technical cooperation with the SNCF and has become a world leader in the field of pantographs. - In the first part of the paper, the author describes different types of contact strip materials used on railways other than the SNCF (French and foreign). The criteria for selection of contact strips according to the type of overhead line, voltage and intensity of the current collected are detailed with reference to Faiveley's international experience. - The second part of the paper describes developments under way aimed at lightening the mobile pantograph structure and using light-weight alloys and composite materials.