Conductix-Wampfler Stinger Systems Provide Power to Vehicles in the Maintenance Area of Metro Ankara

Conductix-Wampfler has just signed its first contract in Turkey to supply stinger equipment as part of the new metro system in Çayyolu/Ankara. Working with our partner Gürpol we will install power supply for the 7 tracks in the train maintenance depot at Çayyolu.

Stinger systems provide electrical power to trains when they are being maintained in rail depots and it would not be safe to use the overhead line or low level conductor rail which provides power when on the main line. A moveable trolley, which can travel on an overhead beam along the length of the maintenance track, delivers power from insulated conductor rails using a cable and connector, which plugs into a socket on the train. The trolley can move with the train as it enters or leaves the depot to the point where it can pick up the main line power source.

The pendant switchable trolley (PST) of Conductix-Wampfler allows an operator to control switching of an individual power plug, and an interlock is provided so that the power cannot be turned on until the plug is securely located in the train socket. There are indicators on the trolley which show clearly when the plugs are being powered. Additional built-in safeguards ensure that the plug cannot be left switched on when not in use. The PST provides market leading safety and operational flexibility and has been adopted by many of the world’s major transit operators and rolling stock manufacturers. Every system is designed to suit the requirements of a particular depot, with variations in electrical current demand, connector and site layout being considered by the company’s engineering team before a solution is proposed.

For the project in Ankara each trolley will be supplied with two connectors, one to feed the traction circuits on the train and one to feed the auxiliary circuits: traction to move the train in and out of the depot, auxiliary to power lights, doors, air-con during testing and maintenance. The connectors will be designed to suit the new rolling and will be manufactured together with the trolleys by Conductix-Wampfler in the UK. Traction supply will be fused at 400A and auxiliary supply at 100A, again to suit the rolling stock. Supply voltage is 750Vdc. Each track is 150m long and can accommodate 2 x 3 car units.

Insulated conductor rails, from Conductix-Wampfler’s standard range, will be provided to deliver the power to the train, through the trolleys, as they move along the seven tracks in the depot.

“Conductix-Wampfler have been supplying stinger systems to rail operators around the world for over 30 years, but this first contract reflects our local presence supporting the rapid growth of metro systems in Turkey”, stated Crawford Scholes, Sales Director at Conductix-Wampfler Ltd. In the UK.