[creato]

Can you even transfer close to 3000 kW through any overhead wires or third rail systems? It seems like 25 kV is the max voltage overhead lines run at. That's 120 A that you need to transfer through a sliding conductor. That sounds problematic to me, but I don't really know for sure...?

And if you are proposing using batteries to reduce the amount of overhead wires you need, then the average power you need to transfer while connected to the wires increases, not decreases.

[TylerE]

The most powerful locomotives are all electric. Powerful freight locos have power outputs of over 13000kw

[hvidgaard]

If we take the hypothetical electric locomotive with a battery pack, it would probably decrease the peak load on the lines. You only need maximum power at acceleration and climb. The battery is perfectly capable at helping with the peaks, while recharging during the cruise when the power demand is low.

[iggldiggl]

To give some ball park figures, this is the default maximum current permitted per train according to national regulations:

- UK conventional lines: 300 A @ 25 kV

- UK third rail network: 6800 A @ 750 V

- German conventional lines: 600 A @ 15 kV

- German high speed lines: 1500 A @ 15 kV

[cardinalfang]

A TGV can take over 12MW. It uses a single contact feeding the two power cars at each end of the train to avoid problems with oscillations in the overhead line at high speeds.