Railway technology: an attractive market

Connection solutions for rail transport from LAPP

Massive investments are being made in rail transport worldwide. According to UNIFE, the global rail market reached an average annual volume of EUR 201.8 billion between 2021 and 2023 and is expected to grow to around EUR 240.8 billion by 2029. As the company grows, so do expectations in terms of safety, reliability and standard-compliant technology. LAPP supports you with a certified portfolio for railway technology and offers you the easiest way to obtain approval for your railway vehicles.

To the UNIFE study
The LAPP portfolio

Our range of railway technology products complies with a wide range of international standards and safety requirements. We operate in over 80 countries, ensuring global availability and first-class service.

The high level of availability and smooth operation of railway vehicles depend largely on the railway cables and cables used. Whether they are needed for power supply, data transmission or control – reliable connectivity solutions enable smooth operation and safe transport.

Cables and wires must have specific properties to be suitable for use in railway vehicles. Compliance with statutory fire safety requirements is even a factor in the approval process. The key consideration here is to ensure the highest possible level of safety for passengers, staff and goods.

In the vehicle, railway cables, cables, conduit glands and connections are subjected to extreme stresses. In addition to mechanical stresses such as stone impact, torsion and severe vibrations, chemical substances – including oils, acids and cleaning agents – also affect the materials. 

When used outdoors, there is also the additional factor of intense UV radiation. Furthermore, extreme climatic conditions during operation place high demands on the material properties of all components.

To withstand these influences, the solutions used must be designed for particularly wide temperature ranges. Railway cables, for example, are often designed to withstand temperatures ranging from –50 °C to +120 °C.

Fire safety, in particular, is treated with the utmost importance in railway vehicles and is subject to different regulations around the world. For example, EN 45545-2 applies in the European Union; in the USA, in addition to NFPA 130, standards relating to the toxicity of smoke gases, such as BSS 7239, are also applied; in some regions of the world, the British Standard BS 6853 is used, whilst in Russia, GOST is applied. The materials and components for railway vehicles are subject to clear specifications. Railway cables and connectivity solutions must therefore have the following essential properties:

  • Halogen-free
  •  Flame-retardant
  •  Self-extinguishing
  •  Low flue gas

The products used do not contribute to the spread of fire and prevent additional injury and damage in the event of a fire.

When selecting and installing railway cables and cables, the relevant national or regional standards must be observed. Within the EU, these are EN 50355 and EN 50343.

These contain, for example, guidelines on selecting the correct cable types, current ratings and the sizing of cable cross-sections.

Your benefits at a glance

Reach your destination faster

Reach your destination faster

When time counts, immediately available articles and short delivery times are your competitive advantage - because they get your projects on track faster. More than 3,400 articles available for railway technology

Production sites in Asia and Europe, complemented by a global logistics network

No minimum order quantities, customised cuts possible

Tailor-made solutions for mass-production requirements and complex large-scale projects

Certified on track

Certified on track

You can rely on tested quality and standard-compliant production - for maximum safety and reliability in rail transport.

Own electron beam crosslinking system

IRIS / TS 22163 certification at the LAPP Korea LLC and LAPP India production sites

Cable types in accordance with EN 50306, EN 50264 and EN 50283, as well as other standards

High production quality and reliability

Running reliably for decades

Running reliably for decades

With over 60 years of experience and comprehensive solution expertise, we offer you everything from a single source – for connection solutions that last.

Over 60 years of development and manufacturing

Many years of experience in the rolling stock market

Complete connection solutions from a single source

Individual solutions for special requirements

Can't find the right product for your needs?
Together, we can develop individual solutions, customized for you. Our experts would be happy to guide you.

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