The use of electromagnetic models is very expedient when railway track circuits are designed or when their operation is being studied. These electromagnetic models include models for performance analysis of the different types of track circuits as well as models used to study the effect of electromagnetic interference. Before these models can produce useful results they all require accurate input parameters. These parameters include the transmission line parameters of the track and the traction current distribution along the length of the track. Models that have been developed for these parameters are presented in this paper, together with an overview of the available track circuit models.