Rail transport is one of FLEXELEC’s key areas of expertise. Innovatory solutions are proposed for an environment in which reliability and safety are paramount.

Prevent snow and ice from building up on railway switches to allow them to operate properly. The switches are heated by means of a heating cable held in place by a composite strip.
Guard rails and slides are heated with plates fitted in strings so that the distance between them can be adjusted to focus power at critical points .
This system makes it possible to reduce the installed power for each set of switches. Cables and plates for switches are fully sealed, with a particularly high insulation resistance.

FLEXELEC has developed a complete range of heating cables and fitting systems especially for heating metro tracks.
The cables are customised for each project. They can be powered at 750V, which makes for very long circuits.
Operating conditions are very severe and require maximum flexibility. The solution chosen must be precisely tailored to meet with this need.
For over 20 years, FLEXELEC has been designing, supplying and fitting systems for number of transport networks in France and abroad. Cities such as Turin relied on these technologies for their new infrastructures for the prestigious 2006 Winter Olympics.

Prevent ice or frost from forming on the third rail (pick-up rail) which drives the power car. Poor contact can lead to unscheduled stops and safety problems.

Make sure that tyres adhere properly to tracks, especially on overhead sections.

From the power car to the coaches, modern trains need efficient heating systems for several very special applications.
The driver’s hands and feet need to be kept comfortably warm in and around his immediate environment. Heating mats placed on the floor and on the dashboard provide close-up warmth to counter the fact that ambient heating in the locomotive is not enough in the harsh climate of many countries.

In coach entrance vestibules a build-up of snow and ice is a source of risk for passengers as the floor becomes slippery. Heating cables fitted in the floor eliminate this danger while also improving comfort for those passengers travelling in the vestibule.

Under the train, the speed and the outside temperature may cause piping and drinking water or waste water tanks to freeze. This can cause the toilets to seriously malfunction.

The system that unfolds the pantograph is a sensitive part of the train since it is of prime importance in supplying electric power to it. Silicon fabrics are vulcanised directly to the stainless steel to ensure maximum power transfer.

The coupling, and the cover plate which protects it, between coaches and locomotives must be accessible and easy to manoeuvre even in winter when freezing must be prevented.