Which statement best describes a feeder in traction power distribution?

• A. A substation component that stores power.
• B. A device that detects occupancy on a track.
• C. A line carrying power from a substation to trackside equipment and trains.
• D. A device that converts AC to DC.

Answer: (C)

In traction power distribution, a feeder is the conducting path that carries electrical power from a substation to where it’s used along the railway—trackside equipment and the trains themselves. It’s the power-carrying line, not a device that stores energy, not a detector, and not a converter. The other elements perform energy storage, signaling/safety sensing, or converting AC to DC, while the feeder’s role is simply to deliver electricity from the source to the loads over the length of the line.