T HR EL 10002 ST

Standard

HV Aerial Lines - Standard

Conductors and Current Ratings

Version 1.0
Issued Date: 16 January 2015
Reconfirmed: 10 July 2019

Important Warning

This document is one of a set of standards developed solely and specifically for use on the rail network owned or managed by the NSW
Government and its agencies. It is not suitable for any other purpose. You must not use or adapt it or rely upon it in any way unless you
are authorised in writing to do so by a relevant NSW Government agency.

If this document forms part of a contract with, or is a condition of approval by, a NSW Government agency, use of the document is
subject to the terms of the contract or approval.

This document may not be current. Current standards are available for download from the Asset Standards Authority website at
www.asa.transport.nsw.gov.au.

© State of NSW through Transport for NSW

 T HR EL 10002 ST
HV Aerial Lines - Standard Conductors and Current Ratings
Version 1.0
Issued Date: 16 January 2015

Standard governance
Owner: Lead Electrical Engineer, Asset Standards Authority
Authoriser: Chief Engineer Rail, Asset Standards Authority
Approver: Director, Asset Standards Authority on behalf of ASA Configuration Control Board

Document history
Version Summary of change
1.0 First issue

For queries regarding this document,

please email the ASA at
standards@asa.transport.nsw.gov.au
or visit www.asa.transport.nsw.gov.au

© State of NSW through Transport for NSW

 T HR EL 10002 ST
HV Aerial Lines - Standard Conductors and Current Ratings
Version 1.0
Issued Date: 16 January 2015

Preface
The Asset Standards Authority (ASA) is an independent unit within Transport for NSW (TfNSW)
and is the network design and standards authority for defined NSW transport assets.

The ASA is responsible for developing engineering governance frameworks to support industry
delivery in the assurance of design, safety, integrity, construction, and commissioning of
transport assets for the whole asset life cycle. In order to achieve this, the ASA effectively
discharges obligations as the authority for various technical, process, and planning matters
across the asset life cycle.

The ASA collaborates with industry using stakeholder engagement activities to assist in
achieving its mission. These activities help align the ASA to broader government expectations of
making it clearer, simpler, and more attractive to do business within the NSW transport industry,
allowing the supply chain to deliver safe, efficient, and competent transport services.

The ASA develops, maintains, controls, and publishes a suite of standards and other
documentation for transport assets of TfNSW. Further, the ASA ensures that these standards
are performance based to create opportunities for innovation and improve access to a broader
competitive supply chain.

This standard supersedes RailCorp standard EP 10 00 00 05 SP HV Aerial Conductors and

Current Ratings, Version 4.0.

The changes to previous content include:

• updates to reflect organisation changes and resulting changes in responsibilities

• minor amendments and clarification to content

• conversion of the standard to ASA numbering, format and style

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 T HR EL 10002 ST
HV Aerial Lines - Standard Conductors and Current Ratings
Version 1.0
Issued Date: 16 January 2015

Table of contents
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 5
2. Purpose ................................................................................................................................................... 5
2.1. Scope ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5
2.2. Application............................................................................................................................................................. 5
3. Reference documents ........................................................................................................................... 6
4. Terms and definitions ........................................................................................................................... 6
5. Conductors ............................................................................................................................................. 6
6. Nominal current ratings ........................................................................................................................ 7
7. HV aerial lines designed prior to 1970 ................................................................................................. 8

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 T HR EL 10002 ST
HV Aerial Lines - Standard Conductors and Current Ratings
Version 1.0
Issued Date: 16 January 2015

1. Introduction
Power supply to traction (and other) substations, railway stations, signalling systems, as well as
other elements of the RailCorp network are primarily provided by the RailCorp distribution
system. The RailCorp distribution system consists of both high voltage (HV) cables and aerial
lines with nominal voltages of between 11 kV and 132 kV. A small number of feeders with a
nominal voltage of 2 kV are still present in the existing network; however these feeders are
gradually being phased out.

2. Purpose
The purpose of this document is to document the HV aerial line conductors used in the RailCorp
HV aerial line network, and their nominal current ratings. It also defines their usage as standard,
non-preferred or obsolete.

2.1. Scope
This document applies to all HV aerial line conductors of the RailCorp distribution system.

The nominal current ratings are based on the design maximum operating temperature of the
conductors and the stipulated environmental conditions. Other factors that affect the selection of
conductors, such as voltage drop, protection relay settings and power loss, are not covered in
this document.

2.2. Application
This document applies to HV aerial line installations for all new work, as well as alterations to
existing installations.

Standard conductors listed in this document shall be used for all new work.

Non-preferred conductors may be used for repairs and minor modifications to existing HV aerial
lines.

Obsolete conductors shall not be used. The current ratings of obsolete conductors are shown in
this document for reference only.

Prior approval from the Lead Electrical Engineer, ASA is required for the use of any other
conductors.

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 T HR EL 10002 ST
HV Aerial Lines - Standard Conductors and Current Ratings
Version 1.0
Issued Date: 16 January 2015

3. Reference documents
Australian standards

AS 1531 Conductors – Bare overhead – Aluminium and aluminium alloy

AS 1746 Conductors – Bare overhead – Hard-drawn copper

AS/NZS 3599.1 Electric cables – Aerial bundled – Polymeric insulated – Voltages

6.35/11 (12) kV and 12.7/22 (24) kV – Metallic screened

Transport standards

EP 00 00 00 13 SP Electrical power equipment – Design ranges of ambient conditions

T HR EL 10001 ST HV Aerial Line Standards for Design and Construction

4. Terms and definitions

AAC all-aluminium conductor

ABC aerial bundled cables

ACSR aluminium conductor, steel reinforced

ASA Asset Standards Authority

Cu copper

High Voltage (HV) a voltage exceeding 1000 V ac or 1500 V dc

TfNSW Transport for New South Wales

5. Conductors
Non-greased all-aluminium conductors (AAC) in accordance with AS 1531 Conductors – Bare
overhead – Aluminium and aluminium alloy, and listed in Table 3 and Table 4, shall be used for:

• construction of new HV aerial lines

• replacement of conductors of an existing HV aerial line to increase the current carrying

capacity of the feeder

Where it is not practical to avoid having an aerial route above buildings and structures, aerial
bundled cables (ABC) in accordance with AS/NZS 3599.1 Electric cables – Aerial bundled –
Polymeric insulated – Voltages 6.35/11 (12) kV and 12.7/22 (24) kV – Metallic screened may be
used for spans of 11 kV feeders; see T HR EL 10001 ST HV Aerial Line Standards for Design
and Construction.

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 T HR EL 10002 ST
HV Aerial Lines - Standard Conductors and Current Ratings
Version 1.0
Issued Date: 16 January 2015

Copper conductors complying with AS 1746, and listed in Table 5 and Table 6, may be used for
repairs and minor modifications to existing HV aerial lines. These conductors are designated as
non-preferred conductors.

Obsolete conductors that may exist in the existing RailCorp HV network are listed in Table 7
and Table 8 for reference purposes.

6. Nominal current ratings

The nominal current ratings given in Table 3, Table 4, Table 5, Table 6, Table 7 and Table 8 are
based on a maximum design operating temperature of 70 °C for the conductors, and the
ambient conditions set out in Table 1 and Table 2.

Table 1 - Ambient conditions for determining conductor nominal current ratings in

eastern zone

Season Ambient temperature (°C) Wind velocity (m/s) Solar radiation (W/m²)
Summer day 39 0.4 1000
Summer night 34 0.4 0
Winter day 20 0.2 300
Winter night 15 0.2 0

Table 2 - Ambient conditions for determining conductor nominal current ratings in

western zone

Season Ambient temperature (°C) Wind velocity (m/s) Solar radiation (W/m²)
Summer day 42 0.25 1000
Summer night 37 0.25 0
Winter day 20 0.2 300
Winter night 15 0.2 0
Eastern zone consists of the area east of Granville, Cabramatta, Glenfield and Glenbrook to
Wallerwang. Western zone consists of the area from Granville to Glenbrook, Richmond and
Camden. The boundaries between the zones follow the railway corridor. The area between
Glenbrook and Wallerawang is geographically not part of the eastern zone. However, the
ambient conditions in this area result in 'summer day' ratings that are almost identical to those in
the eastern zone. It has therefore been included as part of the eastern zone for the purpose of
calculating nominal current ratings.

Wind direction is assumed to be normal to the conductor.

The ambient conditions set out in Table 1 and Table 2 are 'once in 5 years' conditions, that is, it
can be expected that on an average, such conditions will be exceeded once every 5 years.
Care shall be exercised by designers in the selection of conductors to satisfy current carrying
capacity requirements. In assessing the risks involved, the following factors shall be considered
as a minimum:

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 T HR EL 10002 ST
HV Aerial Lines - Standard Conductors and Current Ratings
Version 1.0
Issued Date: 16 January 2015

• safety margins to statutory clearances allowed for in line design

• circumstances under which the feeder is required to carry maximum current, and the
likelihood of such circumstances arising

Design ranges of ambient conditions for electrical power equipment is detailed in

EP 00 00 00 13 SP Electrical power equipment – Design ranges of ambient conditions.

7. HV aerial lines designed prior to 1970

Before 1970, RailCorp HV aerial lines were designed for a maximum conductor operating
temperature of 50 °C. The nominal current ratings of conductors designed for this maximum
operating temperature are given in Table 9, Table 10, Table 11, Table 12, Table 13 and Table
14.

However, it was common practice for designers at the time to allow for margins on top of the
statutory clearances. Therefore the nominal current ratings in Table 9, Table 10, Table 11,
Table 12, Table 13 and Table 14 for 50 °C design have been calculated by using a maximum
conductor operating temperature of 60 °C. Where accurate current ratings are required, the
rating shall be calculated using survey data along the feeder route and the ambient conditions
set out in Table 1 and Table 2.

Table 3 - Standard bare conductors – 70 °C nominal current ratings in eastern zone

Conductor Code name Summer day current Winter day current

rating (A) rating (A)
7/3.75 mm AAC Mars 220 260
Twin 7/3.75 mm AAC - 440 520
7/4.50 mm AAC Mercury 270 320
Twin 7/4.50 mm AAC - 540 640
19/3.75 mm AAC Pluto 400 470
Twin 19/3.75 mm AAC - 800 940

Table 4 - Standard bare conductors – 70 °C nominal current ratings in western zone

Conductor Code name Summer day current Winter day current

rating (A) rating (A)
7/3.75 mm AAC Mars 180 260
Twin 7/3.75 mm AAC - 360 520
7/4.50 mm AAC Mercury 230 320
Twin 7/4.50 mm AAC - 460 640
19/3.75 mm AAC Pluto 330 470
Twin 19/3.75 mm AAC - 660 940

© State of NSW through Transport for NSW Page 8 of 11

 T HR EL 10002 ST
HV Aerial Lines - Standard Conductors and Current Ratings
Version 1.0
Issued Date: 16 January 2015

Table 5 - Non-preferred conductors – 70 °C nominal current ratings in eastern zone

Conductor Summer day current rating (A) Winter day current rating (A)
7/2.00 mm Cu 130 150
7/2.75 mm Cu 190 220
19/2.00 mm Cu 240 280
37/1.75 mm Cu 300 350
19/3.00 mm Cu 390 460

Table 6 - Non-preferred conductors – 70 °C nominal current ratings in western zone

Conductor Summer day current rating (A) Winter day current rating (A)

7/2.00 mm Cu 110 150

7/2.75 mm Cu 160 220
19/2.00 mm Cu 200 280
37/1.75 mm Cu 250 350
19/3.00 mm Cu 320 460

Table 7 - Obsolete conductors – 70 °C nominal current ratings in eastern zone

Conductor Summer day current rating (A) Winter day current rating (A)

7/.064 in Cu 110 130

7/.080 in Cu 130 150
7/.104 in Cu 180 210
19/.083 in Cu 260 290
Twin 19/.083 in Cu 520 580
19/.092 in Cu 290 330
37/.083 in Cu 390 450
6/1/.144 in ACSR 190 210

Table 8 - Obsolete conductors – 70 °C nominal current ratings in western zone

Conductor Summer day current rating (A) Winter day current rating (A)
7/.064 in Cu 90 130
7/.080 in Cu 110 150
7/.104 in Cu 150 210
19/.083 in Cu 210 290
Twin 19/.083 in Cu 420 580
19/.092 in Cu 240 330
37/.083 in Cu 320 450
6/1/.144 in ACSR 160 210

© State of NSW through Transport for NSW Page 9 of 11

 T HR EL 10002 ST
HV Aerial Lines - Standard Conductors and Current Ratings
Version 1.0
Issued Date: 16 January 2015

Table 9 - Standard bare conductors – 50 °C nominal current ratings in eastern zone

Conductor Code name Summer day current Winter day current

rating (A) rating (A)
7/3.75 mm AAC Mars 170 220
Twin 7/3.75 mm AAC - 340 440
7/4.50 mm AAC Mercury 210 280
Twin 7/4.50 mm AAC - 420 560
19/3.75 mm AAC Pluto 290 410
Twin 19/3.75 mm AAC - 580 820

Table 10 - Standard bare conductors – 50 °C nominal current ratings in western zone

Conductor Code name Summer day current Winter day current

rating (A) rating (A)

7/3.75 mm AAC Mars 120 220

Twin 7/3.75 mm AAC - 240 440
7/4.50 mm AAC Mercury 150 280
Twin 7/4.50 mm AAC - 300 560
19/3.75 mm AAC Pluto 200 410
Twin 19/3.75 mm AAC - 400 820

Table 11 - Non-preferred conductors – 50 °C nominal current ratings in eastern zone

Conductor Summer day current rating (A) Winter day current rating (A)

7/2.00 mm Cu 100 130

7/2.75 mm Cu 150 190
19/2.00 mm Cu 180 240
37/1.75 mm Cu 230 310
19/3.00 mm Cu 290 390

Table 12 - Non-preferred conductors – 50 °C nominal current ratings in western zone

Conductor Summer day current rating (A) Winter day current rating (A)
7/2.00 mm Cu 80 130
7/2.75 mm Cu 110 190
19/2.00 mm Cu 140 240
37/1.75 mm Cu 170 310
19/3.00 mm Cu 210 390

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 T HR EL 10002 ST
HV Aerial Lines - Standard Conductors and Current Ratings
Version 1.0
Issued Date: 16 January 2015

Table 13 - Obsolete conductors – 50 °C nominal current ratings in eastern zone

Conductor Summer day current rating (A) Winter day current rating (A)
7/.064 in Cu 90 110
7/.080 in Cu 100 130
7/.104 in Cu 140 180
19/.083 in Cu 190 260
Twin 19/.083 in Cu 380 520
19/.092 in Cu 220 290
37/.083 in Cu 290 390
6/1/.144 in ACSR 140 190

Table 14 - Obsolete conductors – 50 °C nominal current ratings in western zone

Conductor Summer day current rating (A) Winter day current rating (A)
7/.064 in Cu 70 110
7/.080 in Cu 80 130
7/.104 in Cu 110 180
19/.083 in Cu 140 260
Twin 19/.083 in Cu 280 520
19/.092 in Cu 160 290
37/.083 in Cu 210 390
6/1/.144 in ACSR 110 190

© State of NSW through Transport for NSW Page 11 of 11