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Special cables cables set for Italian rail duties

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 11, 2005

Nexans has won a contract worth around Eur 650,000 from GE Transportation Rail to manufacture and supply specialised balise cables to be used in the upgrading of Italy's rail network.

Nexans has won a contract worth around Eur 650,000 from GE Transportation Rail to manufacture and supply specialised balise cables to be used in the upgrading of Italy's rail network to meet ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) requirements.

The implementation of ERTMS will facilitate higher-speed services and an increased number of connections on Italy's railways.

The Nexans balise cables are advanced copper signalling cables which will be installed along the tracks to carry vital information regarding train position, length and number of wagons.

This information will be used by the automatic train control (ATC) system and relayed both to the driver via transponders, otherwise known as "balises", and to the train control centre.

The balise cables therefore play a vital role in maintaining high levels of safety as the volume of rail traffic increases.

GE Transportation Rail is currently expanding its operations in Europe and Nexans regards this order as proof of its capability to meet the complex demands of the growing international railway industry, not only with regards to having the technical expertise to manufacture the cables to GE Transportation Rail's requirements, but also in being able to meet the delivery schedule.

"Nexans has selected railways as a priority market segment and we are currently combining our development, marketing and production resources around the world to meet the changing demands of the railway industry which now operates on an increasingly global scale".

"This project demonstrates our strength in the railway sector and means more opportunities for Nexans", says Yvon Raak, Executive Vice President Europe Area for Nexans.

The balise cable order resulted from close co-operation between several Nexans specialists working across Europe.

For example, technical and commercial contacts are handled jointly by Nexans' sales organisations in Sweden and Italy, and production will take place in Sweden and Spain (the Nexans plant in Maliano specialises in a wide range of telecommunication cables).