Leipzig, Deutschland

10./11. Mrz 2011

Traction Electrification System Planning

for the California High Speed Train Project
Richard W. Schmedes
Systems Manager, CHSTP
Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc.

What is California like?

But it is also like this

Year 2010
38 Million people
500 Million vehicle
trips per year
Year 2030 (projection)
50 Million people
1 Billion trips per year

California High Speed Train Project

Overview
CHSTP: To meet growing public transportation needs
Planning, environmental approval,
design and construction
Linking major and minor
metropolitan areas

New dedicated tracks and

infrastructure
Largest infrastructure project in
Californias history
$43 Billion ( 32.5 Billion)

California High Speed Train Project

Overview - Key Features
Phase II
Sections

Project Delivery in Phases

- 500 miles (800km) Phase 1
- 800 miles (1300km) total
26 Stations under consideration

220 mph (350kph) max operating

speed - (250mph/400kph where
practical)
Phase I Section

12trains/hour/direction
SF to LA (~780 km)
- 2 hrs 40 min by year 2020

California High Speed Train Project

Regional Delivery Structure
Regional
Delivery
Structure of the
CHSTP

Program Management Team has

split the Project into Regions

50 to 150 miles (80 to 240km)

Regional Consultant receives
System Requirements and
design guidelines

Six (6) Regional

Teams for Local
Application
of Programwide
Engineering
Guidelines

Performs site selections, 15%

and 30% design packages and
Environmental Impact Reports
Traction Electrification System
(TES) done centrally across
regional boundaries

California High Speed Train Project

Traction Electrification System Description
2 x 25kV 60Hz autotransformer configuration (less EMI, modern std.)
Substations every 30 miles (50km) with two 60MVA transformers
Paralleling stations and switching stations with 20MVA transformer
every 5 miles (8km)
Operational load:
(per direction)

9 x 20MW (400m 16-car trainsets) +

3 x 10MW (200m 8-car trainsets)
CHSTP Traction Power Facility Spacing

Supply Station
U1

PS
5

60 MVA

60 MVA

115kV/230kV Utility
Connection

U2

PS
5

PS
5

U3

Switching
Station

15

PS
5

U4

15

PS
5

115kV/230kV Utility
Connection

Supply Station

30

PS
5

PS
5

PS
5

California High Speed Train Project

Traction Electrification System Description
Configuration for
redundancy and flexibility

115kV/230kV Utility
Connections

Two independent utility

supply lines preferred

115kV/230kV transmission
feeds (2 connection)
Single Contingency
Loss of incoming line, PS
or transformer no effect
on service
Double Contingency
Loss of substation
reduced service operations

CHSTP Traction Power Supply Station with Utility Connection

California High Speed Train Project

Utility Interconnection Challenges
25kV railways do
not currently exist
in California

Two phase
connection

Two phase
connection

Rules for 25kV

electrification to be
established
Very little industry
knowledge and
experience

Unbalanced and
highly fluctuating
loads seen as
problems

115kV transformed to 25kV for Amtraks Northeast Corridor TES

California High Speed Train Project

Utility Company Interfaces
Utility Transmission Network Central and Southern California

Phase I traverses 4
utility territories

PG&E territory

SCE territory

PG&E and SCE are

large investor owned
utilities (IOUs)
Los Angeles area

LADWP and Anaheim

are municipals

California Public
Utilities Commission
(CPUC) governs
IOUs only

Anaheim

PG&E Network (115/230kV)

SCE Network (220kV)

CHSTP

California High Speed Train Project

Facility Site Planning and Simulations
19 Substations, 86 SWS and PSs to be
sited by Regional Consultants

CHSTP - Phase I Utility Interconnection Locations

Physical alignment characteristics such

as gradients (up to 3.5%), viaducts and
tunnels (over 6miles/10km) affect site
selection and phase break locations
Simulations focused on maximum
length of electrical sections without
under various conditions
PS distance to 6miles (10km) and
electrical section length to 18miles
(29km) with 3rd PS - without violating
voltage drop or transformer load ratings

Interconnections
13 loc. PG&E
3 loc. SCE
2 loc. LADWP
1 loc. Anaheim

California High Speed Train Project

Utility Study Coordination Process
Broad identification of HV interconnection points
Execution of Non-Disclosure or Confidentiality Agreements
Feasibility study/Method of Service study by the utility
Impact analysis study

Include utility modifications or line extensions into the projects

State and Federal environmental clearance processes and
designs (coordinated with regional 15%/30% packages)
Perform facility interconnections and any necessary utility
network strengthening modifications (utility company constructs
high voltage facilities and makes connections)
Execution of Service Agreement between CHSRA and Utilities

California High Speed Train Project

Utility Study Coordination Process
15% Design Process

30% Design Process

Feasibility Analysis
CHSTP

15% Design Process

Rail Line
Alternatives

TPS
Substation
Location
Alternatives

Traction Power
Config

Typical
Interconnections

Transmission
Line Maps from
CEC and
Preliminary
Utility
Coordination

Identification
and Evaluation
of
115kV/220kV/
230kV
Substations
and Lines

Utility

EIR Milestones
for Regions

Traction Power
Load Flow
AnalysisIndicative Load
Profile and
Peak Values

Facility Site
Arrangement

Evaluation of
Capacity,
Available Lines
Space and
Facility and
System
Alteration
Needs
*Network Study/
Impact

Preliminary
One-Lines, Plot
Plans
HV
Configuration
Changes (as
required)

Interconnection
Detail at 15%
Environmental
Impacts

Method Study/
Interconnection Requirements

30% Design Process

30% Site
Plans, OneLines, Full Line
Relay
Protection
Schemes

Preliminary
Interconnection
Design

Applications for
Service at
Identified Points

Process
Applications
Detailed
Interconnection
Engineering

California High Speed Train Project

Utility Permit Process

IOUs are under the regulatory jurisdiction of California Public Utility

Commission (CPUC)
For new construction two types of permits required:

Permit to Construct (PTC) for electric lines 50kV to 200 kV

Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for lines above
200 kV
For CHSTP these are divided 50:50.

Time Frame for obtaining permits:

PTC: 9 to12 months, can be further compressed if environmental impacts

of interconnection requirements (additional HV transmission lines, HV
switching facilities etc.) are included in project EIR, and cleared
CPCN: 12 to18 months, cannot be compressed.
Municipal Utilities are not subject to CPUC regulation but have their own
regional/local codes and permitting processes to follow
Overall process from study to utility interconnection may be > 5 years!

California High Speed Train Project

TES Planning - Summary

TES planning, environmental permitting and design is fundamental to the

successful implementation of High Speed Rail in California

The process involves complex coordination between 4 utility companies

and 6 regional consultants

Added difficulty due to lack of experience with 25kV railway

interconnections and lack of regulatory framework from CPUC

Significant effort is required to accommodate difficult rail alignments with

flexible TES arrangements

Striving to minimize new transmission construction for cost and time

savings by siting CHSTP substations close to existing H/V sources

The engineering challenges will continue through design into construction,

but the technical issues will manageable due to the planning and
coordination currently underway on the Traction Electrification System.

Proper execution will result in system energization for the first segment in
year 2016

California High Speed Train Project

Thank you for your attention!
Richard Schmedes
CHSTP Systems Manager
Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc.
San Francisco, CA, USA

For more information on the Project

Go to the Authoritys website
www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov

Contact the Authority

California High-Speed Rail Authority
925 L Street, Suite 1425.
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 324-1541