Introduction:
China Railway led the construction of the Boten-Vientiane railway, a 414-kilometer electrified high-speed railway connecting Kunming of Yunnan province to Laos’ capital city, Vientiane. The new railway aimed to transform travel to and from Laos. To service this cross-border railway, China Railway and China Railway Rolling Stock Company (CRRC) developed the latest innovative power-centralised train platform. With high-speed Electrical Multiple Units (EMUs), passengers can benefit from a modernised interior, Passenger Information Systems (PIS) and safety and reliability with the Train Control Network (TCN).
However, cross-border services do come with added challenges for manufacturers and system integrators. Equipment used for cross-border rail services needs to operate efficiently in a range of different environments. The flexibility and adaptability of the train’s components is vital in meeting dynamic requirements, and manufacturers are looking for reliable, long-standing investments that they can trust. HUBER+SUHNER has supplied railway products to the main customers within the CRRC Group for more than 20 years. CRRC trusted and selected HUBER+SUHNER products due to its widely renowned reputation for supplying high-end quality and reliable solutions for the Chinese railway industry.
Challenge
Since the train is required to travel across country borders, it is crucial that all solutions incorporated comply with the appropriate standards. Solutions also need to operate effectively in a range of harsh and complex environments and in a host of operational conditions. Infrastructure differences, humidity and high temperatures are all potential hurdles that manufacturers must overcome. As the train travels a long distance, it is essential that the risk of any potential malfunctions is mitigated, preventing breakdowns in the middle of the route.
Due to track construction and commissioning schedule changes caused by the pandemic, the production plan was adjusted several times, meaning that the suppliers involved needed to be flexible with delivery schedules and have quick response times. CRRC needed solutions that were high quality, compact, quick-to-deploy, durable and cost-effective.
Solution
HUBER+SUHNER provided CRRC with low frequency cables for its high-speed, cross border railway. Its reliable, high-quality solutions, such as RADOX® 4 GKW and 9 GKW control and power cables, were chosen for the traction converter. Data transmission solutions, RAILCAT CAT5e, DATABUS cables and cable assemblies, were also installed along the entire train for PIS and TCN ethernet application.
With expertise in contributing to international projects, HUBER+SUHNER was able to offer flexible project management and quick delivery times as required. Some products were produced locally while the rest were stored close by, ensuring flexibility with tight and moving deadlines. HUBER+SUHNER solutions comply with all relevant standards and are ready for deployment wherever they are required, perfect for cross-border rail services and all environments, including high temperatures and high humidity such as in this case.
Result
China Railway and CRRC were able to deliver the trains successfully and on-time for commercial operation thanks to the prompt and effective work of the manufacturers and system integrators.
By partnering with HUBER+SUHNER, China Railway is safe in the knowledge that high-quality, cost-effective and durable solutions will minimise maintenance costs and keep operations on track, long into the future.
