The authors propose study methods of three phase short circuits of an induction traction motor. Methods are based on finite element model or equivalent circuits of the machine and take into account, more or less accurately, saturation and deep bar effects. Depending on the modeling level, they can be used to study short circuit torque or current maxima, waveforms or local constraints. The proposed methods are applied to a 1.5 MW - 4 pole traction motor short circuit study.