A passenger station is an infrastructure facility whose equipment is closer to that of a public building than a traction substation, yet it is supplied from the same non-traction auxiliary power line and operates within the influence of the 3 kV DC traction system. Platforms are equipped with LED, flap-type and LCD information displays with train-departure sensors, loudspeakers and class-D amplifiers on 30/100 V lines, slave clocks controlled from a master clock, cameras, ticket machines, assistance-call buttons and signalling for passengers with reduced mobility.
A separate group consists of platform and workshop external-power points: new vehicles must support an external 3×400 V supply through a standardized six-contact socket, including pilot contacts, as well as 230 V AC and 24 V DC. A supply point on a platform or in a depot must withstand the inrush current of vehicle converters and operate outdoors, with protection and connection-status monitoring. All platform equipment is accessible to the public, operates around the clock without local supervision and is exposed to interference from the traction system.
Equipment used in this area includes: vandal-resistant pushbuttons and switches, emergency-stop switches, information indicators, ticket and receipt printers, power supplies, uninterruptible power supplies and buffer modules for displays and public-address systems, surge protection devices for power and data lines, circuit protection, fibre-optic boxes, terminal blocks, enclosures and outdoor cabinets.
Selection criteria for this area:
From the non-traction auxiliary line (LPN) at 15, 20 or 6 kV running along the route from the traction substation and stepped down at a transformer point to 0.4 kV; the LPN supplies stations, stops, ticket-office buildings and railway traffic-control equipment. In urban areas, facilities may also be supplied from the local utility's 230/400 V network.
End-of-platform displays use sensors to detect that the train has departed so the displayed information can be cleared automatically without staff intervention. Displays, secondary clocks and public-address systems operate in a centrally controlled system from a dispatch centre or master-clock system.
New vehicles are designed for external 3×400 V supply through a six-contact connector, including pilot contacts that control energization and prevent the vehicle from moving with the cable connected. Additional 230 V AC and 24 V DC sockets are also used. The available power limits which onboard systems can operate - usually air conditioning and heating remain off.
According to PKP PLK requirements for telecommunications systems: class-D amplifiers rated at at least 100 W, 30 or 100 V loudspeaker lines, 300–18,000 Hz bandwidth, line short-circuit protection, load disconnection at excessive temperature, self-test and SNMP monitoring.