The application of wire harnesses has now been extended to railway construction.
Rail transport is one of the most efficient and user-friendly modes of transportation. Every year, experts and professionals in transportation systems seek new technological advancements to improve the operation of rail transportation and its high energy consumption. Before these innovative ideas and expert research, trains consumed a large amount of energy during operation due to the number of electronic systems within the train. Therefore, the designers and manufacturers of these trains are designing new efficient systems to reduce the energy consumed to operate under safe conditions.
- In other words, the performance of the train depends indirectly on how well the wiring harness is developed. Wiring harnesses are also used in the construction of connecting trains, these types of trains are among the most important in the rail transit industry. The wiring harnesses used in the production of these trains are mostly strong due to their purpose and purpose of connecting the trains. Most connecting trains are used to transport large numbers of people and heavy loads, and they are known to provide comfort and safety to passengers.
- There are different trains in rail transportation that require wiring harnesses, including: metro/monorail, light rail, and high-speed rail/bullet trains.
Challenges facing railway wiring harnesses
Despite the importance of wire harnesses in rail transportation, there are several issues that limit the use of wire harnesses or cable harnesses. Some of these factors include:
- Copper price fluctuations
Most wiring harnesses are manufactured using highly conductive materials such as copper and aluminum. These materials are often in high demand across various industries such as power, infrastructure and aerospace, thus leading to unstable prices for these materials, especially copper. This instability or volatility in copper prices is mainly due to the huge gap between high demand and low supply. Fluctuating copper prices are a constraint as the rail industry requires large quantities of copper to produce the wire harnesses used to manufacture rail transport trains. - durability issues
In rail transport, rolling stock and support structures require several electronic systems for optimal operation. Cables and wires carry the power these systems require. These systems in railway transportation include lighting systems, braking systems, traction systems, transmission systems, etc. The system uses wiring harnesses to distribute low-voltage and high-voltage power to rolling stock. Most of the time, due to the huge machinery of the train, the wiring harness is exposed to huge loads, which affects its durability. In addition to heavy loads, sometimes constant heat on the harness can degrade its performance. Therefore, when using wire harnesses in the construction of rail transportation systems, manufacturers face durability issues of wires or cables due to load and heat.
