(Electronics Project) Pre-study of new Electrical Coupling between Train Cars

This study is meant to be an initial study of the possibility to replace the discrete control signal wires over the electrical coupler between train cars with a data bus system. The reason for this is that the electrical coupler is large and heavy due to the high amount of contacts it contains.

It is also a problem for manufacturers who are upgrading an existing fleet and need to transfer more signals through a coupler with no spare contacts to use. Except the control signals there are also Ethernet and power signals in the electrical coupler. Some trains also use a bus system for control signals and/or signals containing a large amount of data such as passenger information.

This report gives a presentation of some common ways to distribute electrical signals throughout a train used by most manufacturers. It also presents some design recommendations for a system that would collect existing signals to a bus system and two different design proposals that should be considered if such a system is to be developed.

The study shows that there are already systems on the market for transferring control signals over a bus but they are more aimed for trains under construction. For this reason a new bus system would only be suitable for upgrading existing couplers to free up space in the electrical coupler unit.
Source: Uppsala University
Author: Wahlqvist, Emanuel

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