A study conducted by state-owned Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) claims that optical fibre is a suitable technology to be used for gigabit networks on trains.

As part of this one-year study, SBB tested a range of connectivity components, including fibre-optic cables, connectors and databus cables from Huber+Suhner.

Huber+Suhner market manager Eric Louis-Marie said: "The deployment of fibre-optic cables in railway vehicles is still being carefully observed in the railway market, despite the fact that we have completed large, successful reference projects all over the world and we can therefore rely on long-term experience.

"The SBB’s test results are further confirmation that our railway products can fulfil future requirements."

SBB has installed a Gigabit Ethernet network in a railway vehicle, as part of its effort to meet the future demand of high-data usage.

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For this trial, Huber+Suhner delivered a number of two and four-core fibre-optic cables and QODC connectors, as well as its Radox Railcat Cat7 databus cables.

The train was installed with a test network, which included 24 surveillance cameras, a passenger information system, including twelve screens, six LED displays and an intercom system.

According to the study, handling the fibre connections and plug-in connectors was extremely straightforward and the fibre optic inter-vehicle jumper cables showed no signs of damage, water leakage or moisture.

With this effort, SBB also confirmed that the use of fibre-optic technology presented no greater risk than the previously used copper cables.

Image: The field test confirmed the suitability of fibre optic technology for gigabit networks on trains. Photo: courtesy of Huber+Suhner.