The increasing need for advanced rail networks, including high-speed railways, subways, commuter trains, and light rail, is driven by rapid urbanization. However, the railway environment is known for its challenging and demanding conditions, such as frequent shocks, vibrations, dust, temperature and humidity changes, and electrical disturbances. These environmental factors present predictable challenges for network operators, which include the following:
Challenges
The network devices in railway systems often operate in a narrow and harsh environment with unique requirements. For example, severe air pollution, vibration, shock and EMC are commonly seen.
Providing easily accessible Wi-Fi hotspots so passengers may connect on the Internet, particularly when moving at high-speeds.
Network devices need to be able to automatically reconfigure for topology changes when train carriages are swapped or removed.
Providing stable Passenger Information Systems (PIS) that show real-time weather forecasts, arrival times, rail speed and other information to rail riders.
When deploying a large network (at least 2000 nodes), mass configuration functions are required to reduce setup time.
Providing feature-rich and railway-certified switches to ensure reliability is essential.
CTC Union, a company with extensive expertise in delivering network solutions, presents a wide array of network devices specifically designed for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) applications. Our intelligent railway solutions are meticulously crafted to ensure consistent and dependable network transmissions, even in demanding and ever-changing environments. These solutions aim to address current challenges faced by network operators and anticipate potential issues. The key features of our solutions include:
Providing Industrial grade EMI and EMS certification to offer better protection against unexpected lightning strikes, ESD or surges.
Passing of the EN 50121-4 certification for trackside use.
Supporting various efficient network redundancy (such as μ-Ring) when a single point of failure occurs. μ-Ring can support up to 5 rings (maximum) and can recover from a single point of failure in 10 ms.
Providing 2 copper interfaces with auto bypass function, so if one of the Ethernet switches fails due to power loss, its ports are bypassed with a relay circuit, and the transmission lines will interconnect automatically to assure continuous system operation.
With an M12 connector design, CTC ITP Ethernet switches are designed to withstand severe shock and vibration, making them reliable for uninterrupted rail communication in rolling stock or moving vehicles. ITP Ethernet switches adopt an IP-67 rated housing which can effectively protect against dust, oil and water.
Supporting wide range of operating temperatures (-40~70°C) with rugged design.
Providing TTDP function that identifies the order of the Ethernet switches in a train backbone from the head and allows auto-reconfiguration of the other switches in the entire network.
Providing Industrial Device Management System which is a comprehensive management tool that includes our SmartView™ and SmartConfig™ programs. Whether for monitoring, configuration, maintenance, or troubleshooting, our management software has a tool for every task and is specifically designed to meeting the needs of industrial and railway communications networks.
Application
CTC Union's product range, known as the ITP Series, is designed specifically for rolling stock applications in the railway industry. These products cater to various functions such as passenger information systems, broadcasting systems, surveillance systems, and more. All the products in the ITP Series meet the stringent requirements of EN 50155, ensuring their suitability for railway operations. Additionally, these products are equipped with M12 connectors, enhancing their resistance to shock and vibration.
