Echelon Corporation, a global networking company providing technology and solutions for controls, smart metering, and energy and environment management, has announced that the China Academy of Rail Sciences and Sifang Rolling Stock Research Institute have standardized on Echelon's LonWorks networking platform for safety monitoring on next generation passenger trains - effectively making it a de facto standard for high speed rail travel in the world's largest passenger rail transport market. Echelon's LonWorks networking platform will monitor safety features on passenger trains including brakes, doors and power supply. Since 2002, China's Ministry of Railways has recommended Echelon's LonWorks platform as one of the approved control network standards for passenger trains.
"It is a top priority to improve the safety and efficiency of public transportation systems in China," said Ms. Xiuwei Guo, senior engineer of research and development for the Sifang Rolling Stock Research Institute. "Echelon's proven LonWorks technology provides us with a reliable and flexible platform that is cost-effective and allows Chinese original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to modify and expand on their core development. This will help drive the quick adoption of LonWorks technology."
As the Chinese economy continues to open, fast, efficient, and safe travel between the country's largest cities has been identified as a bottleneck for economic growth. China's Ministry of Rail has mandated a speed increase on all next generation trains, from 120 km/h to 160 km/h and higher. This increase will improve the productivity and efficiency of the Chinese rail system, which remains the country's primary transportation method; however, with the increase in speed comes the need for improved safety monitoring.
"We are very pleased that a LonWorks based-solution has been chosen for China's next generation passenger trains," said Anders Axelsson, Echelon's senior vice president of sales and marketing. "Echelon has long provided control systems for many of the world's largest passenger rail mass transit systems, and we look forward to the China's Ministry of Rail utilizing our technology to manage its new high-speed trains and facilitate future expansion."
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