Influence of high voltage power lines on the propagation of stray currents from DC traction

A typical problem related to the operation of DC railway traction systems are stray currents. Spreading through the ground in the vicinity of the railroad tracks, DC stray currents pose due to the electro-chemical corrosion effects a serious threat to all metallic structures in the ground that form a parallel path for the ground currents. However, the presence of stray currents is not strictly limited only to the direct vicinity of railways. Due to the presence of conductive elements like gas pipes, water pipes, grounding systems of electrical networks etc., stray currents can spread also to more distant areas, where the presence of stray currents is not expected. One of the possible elements contributing to the spreading of stray currents are also high voltage overhead power lines. This paper presents a possible technique for analyzing the influence of overhead powerlines on the spreading of stray currents in a given area.