The invention relates to an electrical
contactor 1, particularly for use in railways, having a
stator 2 and an armature 3, said armature 3 being connected to a
contact region 4a, 4b and being movable from a first to a second position during a switch-on and / or a switch-off process of the
contactor, wherein the
contact region 4a, 4b is connected in at least one of said positions to a counter-
contact region 5a, 5b for closing an electrical circuit, wherein a pushing device 6 is connected to the armature, which pushing device can be rotated relative to the armature 3, wherein the pushing device 6 pushes the armature 3, during the movement from the first to the second position of the switch-on and / or switch-off process at least at times in a supporting manner. The invention also relates to a method for switching on and / or off an electrical
contactor 1, comprising the following steps: moving an armature 3 by activating and / or deactivating a
stator; accelerating a rotation of a pushing device 6, said pushing device 6 being connected to the armature 3; and transferring at least a portion of the kinetic movement energy of the pushing device 3 to the armature 3, in a phase of the switch-on and / or switch-off process, in which a contact region 4a, 4b connected to the armature 3 comes into contact with and out of contact with a counter contact region 5a, 5b to support the armature movement.