What is "third rail"

Third rail \Third rail\ (Electric Railways)

1. The third rail used in the third-rail system.

2. An electric railway using such a rail. [Colloq.]

n. 1 The electrified rail that runs beside or between train tracks to power electric trains. 2 (context by extension English) anything that is dangerous to come into contact with, or is best avoided.

n. a rail through which electric current is supplied to an electric locomotive

A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost fully segregated from the outside environment. Third rail systems are always supplied from direct current electricity.

The third-rail system of electrification is unrelated to the third rail used in dual-gauge railways.

The use of a third rail in rail transport modelling is a technique that is sometimes applied in order to facilitate easier wiring.

"Third Rail" was the first single released from Squeeze's tenth album, Some Fantastic Place. It was the first Squeeze song to crack the Top 40 in the UK since 1987's " Hourglass", peaking at number 39.

Third rail may refer to:

• Third rail, an extra rail used for supplying electricity to trains
  • Third rail (model railroading)
• The extra rail on a dual gauge railway
• "Third Rail" (song), a song by Squeeze
• Third rail of politics, a political metaphor
• The Third Rail, an online magazine about transportation
• The Third Rail (band), an American pop group
• Emergency Third Rail Power Trip, an album by Rain Parade
• Third Rail (MLS supporters association), an independent supporters' group for New York City FC
• Third Rail Releasing, a distribution banner of The Weinstein Company and Genius Products