FIELD: railway transport. SUBSTANCE: according to invention, to start electric train series-wound traction motors are connected at first step to output of low voltage source at maximum current through main pole windings, and voltage is steplessly increased in armature windings at increase of driving speed. At second step of starting, current through main pole windings is steplessly decreased at increase of driving speed maintaining current through armature winding at preset level. At third, final step of starting, current through main pole windings is increased to value at which emf of traction motors rises to value equal to value of contact system voltage, and traction motors are connected to terminal coupled with contact system. Device for implementing proposed method contains semiconductor inverter-type converter with low voltage output, converter to make up windings of traction motor main pole windings, semiconductor change-over, voltage comparator and contact system and traction motor voltage pickup containing resistors. Traction motors are connected with converter output through change-over switch, and main pole windings are connected in series with armature winding circuit and to converter output. EFFECT: reduced energy losses, improved starting conditions. 3 cl, 2 dwg
