Auxiliary Systems

Lighting, signalling and communication infrastructure are just a few aspects of what is called auxiliary systems

Cable routing for auxiliary power supply, control systems, signalling and telecommunications are part of the entire rail system. You have to tune this with the primary power supply, earthing and structural aspects. Not to speak about special requirements for tunnels and the complex situations around main railway stations. The latter ones often adjacent to other e-mobility networks.

Alongside the power supplies for the railway traction, there are numerous additional auxiliary systems. These include lighting systems, tunnel safety lighting, ventilation systems, train preheating systems, points heating, braking systems, escalators and lifts. These systems must all be supplied with electrical power, monitored and controlled. Often separate supply networks are provided, sometimes with their own emergency power supplies. High and low voltage equipment using a.c. and/or d.c. railway power supplies are involved.

Special guidelines have to be observed resulting from the location of auxiliary systems near the track - occasionally very close to the overhead contact line zone and current collector zone. Special safety guidelines and requirements are applied in tunnels.

Alongside the railway installations themselves, numerous low voltage signalling cables are needed, for which interaction effects have to be eliminated to prevent malfunction. The cable routing of the supply cables and wiring for control systems for power supply, signalling and telecommunications has to be coordinated with the earthing systems and structural conditions, as well as between the auxiliary systems amongst themselves.

KEMA possesses both the general electrical engineering as well as the railway-specific expertise to design and plan systems of this kind. Apart from specialists for design and detailed planning, KEMA also has experts competent to perform design reviews and to approve these kinds of systems designed by others. For example as appraisers for the German Federal Railway Authority or as experts on a Notified Body for Interoperability.