Interesting
In recent decades, global attention has increasingly been paid to environmental protection and the drive to reduce emissions. In this respect, electrified rail transport, although the construction and maintenance of railways is more expensive than road transport, is the most logical alternative because it is more energy-efficient than the road, because the friction between the rail and the wheels of the trains is much less than between road pavement and car tires.
The idea of using electric power for transport purposes came into existence as early as 1834 when Americans Devenport and Cook embedded a magneto-electric motor in a small wagon and powered it with galvanic elements.
At the same time, the Russian physicist, BS Jacobi, built an electromagnetic engine to propel a boat against the current of the Neva river.
In 1879, Russian engineer Pirotski built an electric engine in the horse tram in St. Petersburg and powered it with a source outside. The power supply was made on both rails, which were isolated from each other and from the roadway. The same year, the Berlin Exhibition demonstrates a wagon with an electric motor.
In 1885, a tram line was built and put into operation in Toronto, Canada, where a contact network similar to what is used today is being used for the first time.
In Bulgaria the first electric tram was launched on 25 January 1901 in Sofia. In 1942, the first trolley line was opened near Sofia, and from 1950 it was introduced as urban passenger transport.
The first electrified railway section in Bulgaria was put into regular operation in 1963. Its length is 156 km, it is equipped with 4 (four) traction substations and connects the cities of Sofia and Plovdiv.