Stratford Station - Electrification

Electrification

All lines at Stratford are electrified, although a few passenger and freight services which pass through this station are hauled by diesel locomotives. At one time there were four different systems of electrification in use, a record for any station in London. However, since the diversion of the North London Line from the low-level to the new high-level platforms these trains have changed the electrical system they use while at this station. The remaining systems used are:

• 25 kV 50 Hz overhead on Network Rail lines (high level)
• 630 V dc fourth rail on London Underground Central and Jubilee lines
• 750 V dc bottom-contact conductor rail on Docklands Light Railway
• Since April 2009, 750 V dc third rail is no longer used at this station. This was used for the London Overground (low level) North London Line services.

In 1949 the Great Eastern Main Line through Stratford was electrified at 1500 V dc overhead before being converted to 6.25 kV AC 50 Hz overhead in 1960 and converted again to 25 kV in about 1976.