Public transport in the digital age

Rail-based transport systems such as trains and trams connect people and make decisive contributions to environmental protection. Efficient public rail transport reduces emissions, relieves road traffic and makes sustainable mobility accessible to all. In order to ensure that all this functions smoothly, data technology is increasingly gaining significance in railroad engineering for trains and trams.

Reliable data transmission is essential for the safe operation and control of modern trains. Digital communication systems are not only used to transmit signals for controlling trains, but also to realise a wide range of comfort and safety functions. Ethernet technology is increasingly becoming established as the standard. Today, Ethernet networks are encountered in passenger trains for surveillance cameras, passenger information systems, WLAN services, passenger counting systems as well as many other applications. These systems not only improve the passenger experience, but also advance safety and efficiency in day-to-day operations.

As a reliable partner to the railway industry, HARTING is offering innovative data transmission solutions. Robust Ethernet connections and cabling with M12 D and X-coded connectors, Han-Modular^® or ix Industrial^® and RJ45 interfaces are opted for here. In scenarios involving particularly high data rates and long distances, fibre optic connections are also deployed in some projects. We supply durable cabling systems for the railway industry and operators. We have a great deal of experience, particularly in the area of mechanically heavily burdened and stressed wagon interchanges, and develop, test and produce customised solutions for a wide range of installation conditions and load profiles.

The digitalisation of rail vehicles is progressing and driving the need for high-performance connections – meaning that higher data rates and more interfaces are called for. The Ethernet Train Backbone (ETB), standardised in the future in IEC 61375-2-5, will create a powerful communication infrastructure based on Ethernet technology and replace BUS systems such as MTB/WTB that are still widely encountered today. These fully Ethernet-based trains enable the use of AI-supported video surveillance, precise passenger frequency counters and sensors for comprehensive condition monitoring catering to predictive maintenance requirements. High-resolution displays for passenger information systems, advanced entertainment systems and fast WLAN based on redundant mobile and satellite connections are increasingly in demand and necessitate a flexible, scalable network architecture. For the future, standard Ethernet connections between the wagons via copper or fibre optic cables with redundant ring structures are required to achieve maximum reliability. Inside the rail vehicles, Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) offers a compact, lightweight and powerful solution that is optimally tailored to the requirements of tomorrow’s systems. It is advisable to design the network topology in trains so as to provide a separate redundant network for the actual train control system certified for maximum functional safety in addition to another network for the "comfort functions" such as WLAN, video surveillance and passenger information systems. This concept offers the advantage that only the network for train control will have to be designed to meet high SIL levels. Regular adjustments to the network for the additional functions, such as adapting to newer WLAN routers or new display systems, will therefore have no impact on the network for train control, simplifying operation over a long service life and thereby also contributing to sustainability.

With the advent of the European Train Control System (ETCS), the digitalisation of the rail network is also being realised thanks to a modern, standardised train control system. This will increase the safety and efficiency of rail transport in Europe through digital communication between trains and the trackside control centres. Thanks to the precise, continuous transmission of journey data, ETCS enables shorter train intervals, improving route utilisation and significantly increasing the capacity of the rail network. The introduction of ETCS will significantly advance the digitalisation of the railways, as outdated signal-based systems will be replaced by innovative, digital technologies. Here, too, the lifeline is characterised by Ethernet technology.

The replacement of conventional BUS systems such as MTB/WTB by fully Ethernet-based architectures is already foreseeable. Consequently, Ethernet is becoming the connecting technology of choice for all on board applications - from control systems to passenger comfort features. HARTING is supporting these developments with a broad portfolio of products and continuously developing future-proof solutions for the requirements of urban mobility. One thing is clearly evident: Ethernet is also becoming increasingly pivotal in the mobility sector – and HARTING is ready to play an active role in shaping this future.