Industrial Cable – The Unsung Hero of Railway Communication The transportation industry, unlike many other mission-critical industrial operations, has the unique position of directly engaging with its customers (the passengers) and keeping them happy and safe. Any delays or downtime in a transportation system not only lead to lost revenue, but a trickle-down effect of annoyed travellers, who can choose to spend their transportation revenues somewhere else. Do you have nightmares about train delays, safety issues or interrupted passenger services? Customers are easily frustrated by issues, like inaccurate travel information, missed connections or lack of Wi-Fi on board. Whether you oversee the overall operations of a railway system or you’re in charge of specifying a new or upgraded application– the reliability of the railway communication network rests on your shoulders. No matter your role in building out a proper Ethernet network, it can be easy to fall into the trap of focusing your attention on the “shiny” or more exciting components, like switches and routers. But, if the last thing that comes to mind is your cabling – you need to reconsider your priorities. After all, cabling is the critical component that links everything together. Without it, even high-end switches or routers won’t be able to communicate. Building out the Ethernet network for a railway is similar to building a railway system itself. Similarly, without the proper cabling selection and network design, even the most expensive switch may not be able to transmit data at its specified rates. Ultimately, poorly performing cable will impact the overall performance and reliability of your transportation system. The Importance of Quality Industrial Cable for Railway Communication High-quality cable is especially important in transportation, which has its own set of challenges. To withstand these challenges, the industry must meet many standards simultaneously. Accomplishing this within a single product is tricky, especially with cables – they’re not all created equal. Here are some challenges to consider:
Fire and smoke. With cables often placed in the driver’s cab or engine room, they’re more likely to be exposed to high temperatures and possibly even fire or smoke. Make sure your cables have jackets that resist flame propagation. Find cables that meet IEC45545-2 or ECE R118.02 approval, meaning that in the event of a fire, the jacket burns slowly, does not produce any harmful substances when burning and won’t reignite later on.
Extreme temperatures. To ensure your cables are tested and approved for use in varying temperatures in the transportation industry, look for an IEC50155 rating. Extreme cold can make COTS cables stiff and brittle, while elevated temperatures can degrade and weaken the plastic used in the cables’ construction.
Exposure to rodents. Oftentimes cables are installed in exposed outdoors situations. This increases the odds that pests or rodents could find their way to the cables. Be sure to select cabling with rodent-proof jackets and connectors.
Difficult installation and maintenance. In a factory setting, the Ethernet infrastructure is installed in more easily accessible locations, such as cabinets. On a train, however, easy access for installation or updates is rare. Replacing an old or worn-down cable might require removing the entire roof. Between replacing the cabling itself and the process to get access, this is a very costly job. A high-quality industrial grade cable is one you can “fit and forget” – lasting up to 2030 years before a replacement is needed.
Excessive vibration. Vibration is a frequent occurrence in transportation settings, especially as trains constantly move from point A to point B. This means your cables are constantly pulled or stretched with excessive force, resulting in degraded electrical performance. Look for cables that meet or exceed the IEC50155 and EN50082-2 standards.
When choosing cables for your transportation system, quality isn’t your only consideration. Make sure to choose the appropriate cable (or combination of cables) for your application. For example, while high quality copper cables represent the industry standard, the future of transportation is also heading towards fiber optic cables. Fiber Cable If you need a future-poof cable available for both indoor and outdoor use and can be buried underground, look for fiber cable. With fiber optic cable, your system will operate with gigabit Ethernet light sources and be protected against moisture and chemicals or abrasion. Copper Cable Copper Ethernet cables are the more traditional industrial option. They are available for Cat 5e, Cat 6 or Cat 6a applications. How do you know which application makes sense for you?
Cat 5e cables are still widely used, however new installations favor Cat 6 cables to meet gigabit speeds and increased bandwidth.
Cat 6a cables are helpful for future proofing.
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