Today at around 12:10, a temporary restriction was imposed on the entry of passengers at all metro stations in Baku. The reason is a malfunction in the supply of high voltage to the contact rail in the "Ulduz-Nərimanov" section. Measures are currently being taken to eliminate the problem and restore the voltage.
Medianews.az reports that supplying high voltage to the metro contact rail means transmitting the electrical energy that powers the movement of trains into the system. This is a necessary process for the operation of the metro system but is the most critical factor for passenger safety.
Metro trains obtain the energy required to move from the contact rail, which runs alongside the rails and is usually covered with a yellow or red protective cover (the third rail).
The voltage of the direct current supplied to the contact rail in the Baku Metro is 825 volts. This is many times stronger than the 220 volts used in households and poses an immediately fatal danger to humans.
Voltage is present on the rail throughout the entire time the trains are moving. Voltage is cut off only during night hours (after service stops) or in case of accidents or maintenance work.
Therefore, if any object or passenger falls onto the station track, according to the official safety rules of the Baku Metro, one must not only avoid touching the rail, but must also not even approach it.
If you hear the announcement "interruption in high voltage supply" in the metro, it means that due to technical reasons or an accident, the electrical energy necessary for the movement of trains has been cut off.