>>1144732>Also why dont they mount overhead wires to the ground and conect them to the loco.That would be like a third rail. The thing is it makes everything very complicated, trackwork, evacuations, that kind of stuff. Also idk if third rail would be problematic for very high speeds.
Also since overhead wire is already the standard, it makes little sense to use a different system for HSTs. If they use the same overhead wire you can simply run them over regular train tracks without the need for two types of electric equipment.
It's very rare for non-subway trains to use third rail, you always want to have the electricity in a place where it can't be easily reached. However, in France there's one line that uses third rail despite not being an urban railway, the yellow train in the pyrenees mountains. It was built as an electrified line starting around 1907, since it was in the mountains so there are steep slopes and hydro power was abundant, so it made a lot of sense to build an electric train. Back then overhead catenary wasn't yet standard for train lines, just for trams. For this reason they have to take a lot of precautions at crossings and stations.
