Today, metal cable theft is a major problem for the UK rail industry. It is causing widespread damage and disruption as well as costing the industry vast amounts of money to replace and repair vital equipment. Theft from the rail sector has cost the industry £43 million over the last three years and trains have been delayed for a total of more than 16000 hours. During 2012 some 3.8 million passengers had their journeys delayed or cancelled. What is more it is not just a UK problem and there are similar stories to be told about Europe’s railway systems as a whole.
Particularly when railway carriages are left in more remote areas, they become a target for crime. The theft of undercarriage metal cabling, often only protected by standard nylon 11 or 12 electrical conduit, is relatively simple. When it is considered that there may be as much as 23 metres per cable run, with several multiples on a single carriage, it is easy to see why this type of crime has been on the increase.
So it is good news that an innovative, technologically proven solution to counter the railway’s metal cable theft problem is now available. It is provided by Adaptaflex, a world leader in electrical conduit systems, who have developed a specific range of products that the railway industry can call upon to deter metal cable crime.
Adaptaflex designs and manufactures a wide range of high performance electrical conduit systems that can be provided with various metallic over braids. These include Type PF nylon conduit with a tough overbraiding of stainless steel, which presents a far more daunting prospect for the would-be thief. As it is covered in stainless steel, it is virtually impossible to cut quickly with a hacksaw, if indeed at all. It has already been specified for use as part of a major refurbishment programme within the Italian railway industry where the level of downtime in rolling stock fleets caused by vandalism has been a major issue.
Just as importantly for the rail industry, this product that has exactly the right specification for railway rolling stock under-carriage and underfloor applications where low temperatures are frequently encountered. It has an operational temperature range of down to -50ºC and, with its flexing characteristics and high impact resistance, also offers optimum cable protection in areas of high vibration typically encountered on rolling stock.
Type PF is based on a flame retarded Polyamide 12 material and is self-extinguishing and heat stabilised. It has passed all the flammability, smoke and toxicity performance tests UL94, ISO 4589, CEI 11170 and NFF16-101 with an I3, F1 rating. Additionally full conformance mechanical tests have been met within the leading worldwide conduit standard IEC 61386. It is available in a range of conduit diameter sizes.
Type PF nylon conduit overbraided with stainless steel is also ideal for use in safety critical trackside applications, including signalling, control and junction boxes where metal cable thefts have caused disruption. The versatility of stainless steel overbraided Type PF conduit makes it a viable solution for many different applications within the rail industry and a product that UK operators should be considering.
In general, Adaptasteel metallic overbraided conduit systems are designed to protect vulnerable cabling in areas where abrasion, spillage and high temperatures are encountered. They can also be used in other harsh rail environments and the range includes low fire hazard, EMI screen, liquid resistant and liquid tight versions. There are galvanised steel, stainless steel and tinned copper overbraid types available in a wide range of sizes. With earth continuity via the system’s fittings, the overbraiding can afford a standard, enhanced or high degree of EMI screening capability. A range of complementary fittings designed to maintain system integrity is also available. These include swivel, straight, 90º and 45º degrees versions together with accessories such as converters, reducers, enlargers and locknuts.
For more information visit the website at, www.adaptaflex.com or contact Adaptaflex at CMG House, Station Road, Coleshill, Birmingham, B46 1HT, Tel: 01675 468200, Email: marketing@adaptaflex.com
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