Progressive Railroading, February 2015:
PTC, rail technology evolution prompt railroads to pursue more reliable surge and lightning protection solutions
The impending rollout of positive train control (PTC) on U.S. railroads continues to send ripples throughout the rail supply industry, including providers of lightning and surge protection equipment and services.
"Positive train control has caused a lot of increased attention in better surge protection," says Jason Mies, national rail/transit manager for Smiths Power, a supplier of power distribution, conditioning, monitoring, and surge and lightning protection technology. "Our business has skyrocketed as [railroads] have been installing radios and antennas all over the place."
Railroads also are bolstering lightning and surge protection for the wider array of equipment necessary for PTC. Railroads want better reliability, more remote monitoring capabilities and better multifunction options, particularly as the electronics in need of lightning and surge protection become more complex and more costly to repair or replace, suppliers say.
"Positive train control has brought a lot more electronics out to the tracks," says Matthew Caie, vice president and director of sales for ERICO Rail Connections, and a former director of ERICO's North American sales. "It's really changed the market significantly in the last 10 years."
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