TE Connectivity launches new signal wire for railway rolling stock and infrastructure

DARMSTADT, Germany – July 2, 2020 – TE Connectivity (TE), a world leader in connectivity and sensors, has begun offering a new type of signal wire and cable for a variety of railway applications. It performs to a high level, reduces energy consumption and takes up less space, all at the same time.

Products in the TE EN50306 range have a cross-section half that of traditional thick-wall wires, but they perform just as well, if not better – and have long lifetimes. They free up space on railway carriages for passengers and, because they are approximately 30% lighter, they help reduce the overall energy consumption of the train, cutting costs and environmental load.

The new products meet all relevant rail requirements for low-voltage signal wire. They have halogen-free flame-retardant ruggedized jacketing made from electron beam-crosslinked polyethylene, qualifying them for failure-free performance in the harshest environments. They conform to EN50306, which regulates thin-wall railway rolling stock cables with special fire performance, as well as EN45545-2, which covers the flame, smoke and toxicity requirements of all materials and components for rolling stock.

Paul Crofts, product manager for the new range of signal wires states: “TE EN50306 wires and cables meet the key rail global standard for signal wire. They can be used in stations, track-side, and on all types of rolling stock. They were designed for a specific purpose, so these new products meet all the difficult mechanical, fluid and flammability requirements of rail-related EN specifications.”

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