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Rail transportation is very dependent on the quality of the infrastructure that supports it, and that includes cables and cabling systems for telecommunications and energy. Modern high-speed trains demand cables with different characteristics in terms of bandwidth, safety, electromagnetic immunity and resistance.
A definite trend is interoperability, which allows trains to move easily across borders and even continents. Here, too, cables must comply with the new consolidated ERTMS/ETCS standards which are progressively integrating GSM-R radio technologies for train control, while continuing to rely on older route control systems (relay interlocking) for safety and redundancy.
Indeed, safety has become a prime concern for the world’s rail operators, and there is a demand not only for more reliable operating systems, but also for materials with improved fire-performance characteristics, especially in tunnels, stations and public areas. Urban mass transit, subways, fully-automated metros, light rail suburban lines and trams are experiencing substantial growth, especially in Asia. Each rail mode has its own cable needs.
What railway operators expect of a cable manufacturer
- Range of high-quality cables from one supplier
- Mastery of energy, data and radio-based technologies
- Installation for mainline, mass transit, tunnels, right-of-ways, etc.
- Enhanced fire performance for public and infrastructure safety
- Interoperability, open standards, and worldwide compliance
- Cable efficiency, compactness, lightness, and resistance
- Low costs, minimum maintenance, easy upgrades
To answer these challenges, Nexans provides a complete range of cables and accessories for all of your railway networks projects.
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