An electric motor is essentially a very straight foreword, it takes up electricity either from an overhead power supply or electrical track, it has an onboard transformer that carries the power supply down to an acceptable level (like a substation). There's also a section which regulates the power supply to a driver-controlled level. Then the power is provided to the traction motors on each axle of the engine's wheels, which is what provides the forward thrust.
Electric motors are very powerful. It can generate as much torque as you give them power, and because there's no limit to the motors' power supply.
Another big plus is speed. Electric motors have virtually no moving parts, just the engines and wheel axles. With an electric motor, the speed record is 320 mph. An electric motor has no peak speed in principle.
Electric motors are quiet and don't generate much heat so that most of the energy is transformed into movement.
By using the electric traction, less shaking or vibration is produce when the train is move and this help to provide the passenger a comfortable, smoother and faster journeys (Smiler, 2015).
But, given that power stations needed to produce electricity do not do so at maximum capacity, this may hinder the train speed and movement.
A pantograph (picture) Is a device attached on the horseback on top of the roof of the train. It is being used to collect current through contact with an overhead catenary wire. Mostly a single wire is used, with a return current running through the track. Besides that, it is a common type of current collector.
Possibility of power disruption
A pantograph on top of the locomotive must also make good contact with the electrical wires in order for the train to run, sometimes it is possible for things to go wrong.
Any maintenance work that will be performed on the railway line, the electricity supply has to be shut down. This means that trains cannot pass through. This can create issues on busy railways, as a large number of trains need to be re-routed or even part of the journey has to be done by bus.