A method for supplying power to railway operating elements that are arranged along a railway line. A terminal station has a power supply device. At least one substation has a power supply subunit for at least one connected railway operating element. An input-side control unit of the substation modifies the current consumption in the substation incrementally, with corresponding modification of the voltage of the power supply subunit to match the rated voltage of the railway operating element on the substation, and producing a coded message. The control device of the terminal station modifies the output voltage according to the coded message, until the rated voltage for the railway operating element is reached on the power supply subunit. When the nominal voltage is reached the power supply subunit is connected to the railway operating element.