dual-voltage

adjective

Able to run using two different voltages, depending on the voltage supplied to the particular railway line, whether by third rail direct current or overhead wires.

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Meanings

adjectivedual-voltage (not comparable)
  1. not comparablerail transportAble to run using two different voltages, depending on the voltage supplied to the particular railway line, whether by third rail direct current or overhead wires.
    2 more examples

    With multi-voltage techniques in their present state of development, the greatest disadvantage resulting from these differences is the impossibility of fast through multiple-unit expresses. Dual-voltage trains work between Amsterdam and Brussels, but many additional problems would arise if they were to run south of Luxembourg.

    1957 December 28, “European Electrification Progress”, in Railway Magazine, page 820

    Transport for London has ordered 48x4-car and 6x5-car '710s' from Bombardier, with the initial order of 45x4-car units comprising 31x4-car AC-only units for West Anglia services and 14x4-car dual-voltage units for the Gospel Oak to Barking line (GOBLIN) and Watford DC services. However, this has recently been varied, with one of the AC-only units now to be delivered as a dual-voltage set. The nine units later added to the order are all dual-voltage, meaning the total order is now for 30x4-car AC-only units and 18x4-car and 6x5-car dual-voltage units.

    2019 October, “'710s' debut on Watford DC services”, in Modern Railways, page 88
  2. not comparablerail transportProvided with two separate traction power supplies at different voltages, typically as a changeover point between voltages.

    Quévy, the end-to-end junction with the S.N.C.F. main line via Aulnoye to Paris, will be a dual-voltage station with arrangements of overhead and signalling equipment similar to those at Luxembourg, another junction between the 3,000V and 25kV systems.

    1962 October, “Beyond the Channel: Belgium: Brussels-Paris electrification”, in Modern Railways, page 276

Origin

From dual + voltage.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

dual-voltage. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dual-voltage

MLA

“dual-voltage.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dual-voltage. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dual-voltage,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dual-voltage.

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