News and Exhibitions - Distributed diesel traction tested on Europe's longest freight train

Caledonian Rolling Stock Cables

CABLE CONSTRUCTION

Conductors:
Tinned fine copper strands according to VDE 0295 / IEC 60228 class 5 are generally used for railway cables. For nominal cross section of over 50mmsq, 0.41mm strand wire may be used instead of 0.51mm as stipulated in IEC 60228. The IEC 60228 class 5 enhances flexibility and the ease of handling, thus lengthening the product life of the cable. These class 5
conductors are extremely flexible, and easy-to-install in the compact rolling stock environment.
Insulation and Outer Sheath:
Crosslinked polyolefine copolymer or EPR will generally be used for insulation whereas electron-beam cross-linked elastomer is employed for sheathing. Cross-linked elastomer compounds offer very good durability that can resist heat, oil, vibration, chemical aggression, etc.

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD

As an OEM, Caledonian rolling stock cables provide our railway customers with future headroom by meeting the following European Norms (EN) and international standards :

EN 50264

EN 50306

EN 50382

NF F 63808

NF F 63826

NF F 63827

BS 6853

DIN 5510-2

NF F 16 101

UIC 895

Distributed diesel traction tested on Europe's longest freight train

EUROPE: On April 12 Fret SNCF operated a 1 524 m long freight train between Sibelin yard near Lyon and Nîmes, hauled at up to 100 km/h by two Euro 4000 diesel locomotives built by Vossloh España. Weighing 4 020 tonnes, ‘the longest freight train ever run in Europe’ comprised 72 wagons originally formed as separate rakes of 40 and 32 vehicles, operating regular Kombiverkehr intermodal services between Germany and Spain.

The second locomotive marshalled within the consist was controlled remotely from the head of the train, following work by Vossloh to develop new radio antennae and modify the driver’s desk. The radio control system has been developed by Createch and Schweizer Electronic, while Faiveley has been responsible for braking systems.

Diesel traction has been tested during the second phase of trials under Project Marathon, a programme funded by the European Union which aims to reduce operating costs by 30% and increase capacity on key corridors by operating longer freight trains.

Noting that the record train length had been made possible by the various skills of the 16 project partners, French Transport Minister Frédéric Cuvillier said that regular operation of longer freight trains on the major European corridors was ‘clearly foreseeable’ within two years. Routes being considered within France include those from Paris to Lille and Bayonne near the Spanish border, as well as Paris – Marseille, Paris – Le Havre and Bettembourg – Perpignan which are already able to accommodate freight trains up to 850 m in length.