Railway networks operate in environments where communication reliability is essential. Onboard CCTV, passenger information systems, train control interfaces, diagnostics, and other connected applications depend on stable Ethernet connectivity. Unlike office networks, railway installations may experience significant temperature changes, mechanical shock, continuous vibration, electromagnetic interference, and variations in power supply.
Choosing an EN50155 industrial Ethernet switch for railway systems therefore requires more than comparing port counts and transmission speeds. Railway engineers and system integrators need to evaluate environmental compliance, shock and vibration requirements, power redundancy, network architecture, and long-term maintainability.
This guide explains the key technical considerations when selecting a railway Ethernet switch and how to evaluate industrial networking solutions from Hinet.
1. What Is an EN 50155 Industrial Ethernet Switch?
EN 50155 is a European standard covering electronic equipment used on rolling stock. It addresses equipment characteristics and operating conditions relevant to railway applications, including environmental conditions, temperature, shock and vibration, electromagnetic compatibility, and electrical power supply conditions.
An Ethernet switch intended for railway use must be selected according to its installation location and the requirements of the complete railway system.
Typical applications include:
- Onboard CCTV and video surveillance networks.
- Passenger information and public address systems.
- Train communication and diagnostics networks.
- Ethernet connections between onboard subsystems.
- Railway vehicle monitoring and maintenance systems.
- Industrial networking equipment installed in railway-related infrastructure.
Not every industrial Ethernet switch is suitable for onboard railway installation. A general industrial product may offer a wide operating temperature range or surge protection without satisfying all requirements for rolling-stock equipment.
When evaluating an EN 50155 industrial Ethernet switch, confirm the applicable standard, product model, installation category, environmental ratings, and supporting documentation.
It is also important to distinguish onboard rolling-stock equipment from trackside networking equipment. Trackside applications may have different environmental and railway-sector compliance requirements.
2. Why Operating Temperature Matters in Railway Networks
Railway networking equipment may be installed in equipment cabinets, onboard compartments, control panels, or other locations with limited ventilation. Temperature can vary significantly depending on the vehicle design, installation position, season, and operating conditions.
A switch rated for a conventional office environment may not be suitable for these conditions.
Wide-temperature operation
For demanding industrial and railway-related installations, an operating temperature range of -40°C to +75°C can provide useful environmental flexibility.
This range should be treated as a product-specific specification rather than a universal requirement for every railway switch. The required range depends on the installation environment and the applicable project specification.
When reviewing the datasheet, check:
- Minimum and maximum operating temperatures.
- Storage temperature limits.
- Temperature conditions during startup.
- Whether the full temperature range applies to the complete switch.
- Whether power supplies and connected modules have different temperature limits.
- Whether performance or PoE output is reduced at temperature extremes.
For example, Hinet lists industrial Ethernet switch products with a specified operating range of -40°C to +75°C. Buyers should verify that the selected model has the required ratings and supporting evidence for their railway application.
Explore the Hinet industrial Ethernet switch product range to identify relevant models and review their technical specifications.
Installation conditions still matter
A wide-temperature rating does not remove the need for proper installation. Enclosure design, airflow, mounting orientation, heat generated by adjacent equipment, and power-supply selection can all affect actual operating conditions.
Railway system designers should evaluate the complete installation rather than relying on the switch temperature rating alone.
3. Shock and Vibration Resistance: A Critical Railway Requirement
Railway vehicles experience mechanical stresses that differ from those in fixed office or commercial installations. Track conditions, vehicle movement, equipment mounting, and operational vibration can expose network devices to repeated mechanical loads.
A switch that operates reliably on a stationary test bench may not necessarily be suitable for installation on a moving vehicle.
Why mechanical resistance matters
Shock and vibration can affect connectors, circuit boards, mounting systems, solder joints, and other mechanical or electrical components. Over time, inadequate mechanical design can contribute to intermittent connections or equipment failure.
When selecting a railway Ethernet switch, engineers should examine:
- The applicable shock and vibration requirements.
- The test standards and categories covered by the product documentation.
- The mounting method and mechanical retention system.
- The connector type and cable-retention arrangement.
- The intended installation location.
- The manufacturer's test reports or compliance documentation.
Do not confuse industrial ruggedness with railway qualification
An aluminum enclosure, DIN-rail mounting, or an industrial operating temperature range may be useful features, but none of these alone proves that a device satisfies a particular railway shock and vibration requirement.
EN 61373 is a relevant standard for shock and vibration testing of railway equipment. However, the required category and class depend on the equipment's installation location and the applicable project specification.
Ask the manufacturer to provide the evidence required by the railway project. Where compliance with EN 61373 is specified, verify that the relevant model has supporting documentation for the required category and class.
The same principle applies to EN 50155: confirm the actual scope of the product's compliance instead of assuming that every model in an industrial switch portfolio has identical qualifications.
4. Redundant Power Inputs for Improved Availability
A railway Ethernet network may serve multiple connected systems. An interruption in switch power can disconnect every device attached to that switch, even when the Ethernet links themselves remain intact.
Power design is therefore an important consideration when evaluating an industrial Ethernet switch for railway systems.
What dual power inputs provide
A switch with dual power inputs can support two power connections, depending on its design. If the switch supports the required redundancy arrangement, one supply path may continue powering the equipment when the other path fails.
However, two power connectors do not automatically guarantee complete power redundancy.
Before specifying a model, confirm:
- Whether both power inputs can operate simultaneously.
- Whether the inputs are isolated or internally connected.
- Whether the switch supports automatic changeover or another defined redundancy behavior.
- Whether both supplies can provide the required operating current.
- Whether the supply voltage range matches the vehicle or cabinet power system.
- Whether the datasheet specifies behavior during voltage interruptions or supply changes.
The system designer should also determine whether both supplies originate from genuinely independent power sources. Connecting two inputs to the same upstream supply may not eliminate the principal power-failure risk.
Verify the required DC voltage range
Railway and industrial installations can use different DC power systems. The acceptable input range depends on the equipment design and the supply conditions at the installation point.
Do not select a switch solely because its nominal voltage appears compatible. Confirm the specified operating range, transient conditions, interruption requirements, polarity protection, and any applicable railway power-supply requirements.
Hinet's industrial switch range includes products with documented DC input specifications and industrial protection features. The appropriate model should be selected only after its exact power-input configuration has been checked against the project's electrical requirements.
5. Ethernet Ports, Fiber Uplinks, and Network Topology
Railway networks may connect cameras, passenger information displays, monitoring equipment, controllers, and other Ethernet-enabled devices. The switch must provide enough interfaces for the intended topology and future expansion.
Copper Ethernet ports
RJ45 Ethernet ports are commonly used for connecting nearby devices. When planning the network, determine:
- The total number of connected devices.
- The required port speed.
- Whether ports need to support PoE.
- Whether spare ports are required for maintenance or expansion.
- Whether the selected switch provides the required management features.
Avoid sizing a switch solely for the initial device count. Additional capacity can reduce the need for hardware replacement when the network expands.
Fiber-optic uplinks
Fiber is useful when connecting network cabinets, separate vehicle sections, or devices over distances that exceed the practical limits of copper Ethernet. It can also help address electrical isolation requirements between network segments.
When evaluating fiber interfaces, check:
- Whether the switch provides SFP or fixed fiber ports.
- Whether the interface supports single-mode or multimode fiber.
- The required optical connector and transceiver.
- The supported optical distance.
- Compatibility with the remote device.
- Whether uplink redundancy is required.
The optical transceiver must match the fiber type, wavelength, connector, and transmission distance. Do not assume that two devices are compatible simply because both have an SFP slot.
For larger networks, consider the complete topology, including aggregation points, uplink capacity, and the consequences of a single link or switch failure.
6. Electromagnetic Compatibility and Surge Protection
Railway and industrial environments may contain electrical equipment that generates electromagnetic interference. Switching power supplies, motors, drives, and long cable runs can introduce disturbances into network installations.
An Ethernet switch must therefore be evaluated in the context of the surrounding electrical environment.
Review the relevant EMC requirements
When evaluating compliance, identify which requirements apply to the intended installation. These may include railway-specific electromagnetic compatibility requirements, industrial immunity requirements, and project-specific testing criteria.
EN 50121-4 addresses electromagnetic compatibility requirements for signalling and telecommunications apparatus. It should not be treated as interchangeable with every other railway EMC standard; the appropriate standard depends on the equipment and installation.
Request model-specific compliance information and verify that it matches the intended application.
Surge protection
Some Hinet industrial switch listings specify surge protection for power and data ports. This can be an important consideration in installations exposed to electrical disturbances.
Nevertheless, the existence of a surge-protection feature does not eliminate the need to examine its documented test levels, protected interfaces, grounding requirements, and installation guidance.
For railway and trackside systems, assess the complete protection arrangement, including power supplies, cable routing, bonding, grounding, and any external protective devices required by the project.
7. Managed or Unmanaged Switch: Which Is Better for Railway Systems?
The appropriate management type depends on network complexity and operational requirements.
Unmanaged switches
Unmanaged switches may be appropriate for small, straightforward networks where basic Ethernet connectivity is sufficient. They are generally simpler to deploy and do not require extensive configuration.
However, they may provide limited visibility into network faults and fewer options for traffic management.
Managed switches
Managed switches can provide features such as:
- VLANs for traffic segmentation.
- Quality of Service (QoS) for traffic prioritization.
- SNMP monitoring.
- Port statistics and diagnostic information.
- Link aggregation where supported.
- Network redundancy functions.
- Access control and management security features.
For example, a railway CCTV network may use VLANs to separate video traffic from other operational systems. QoS can help prioritize selected traffic, while monitoring functions can assist maintenance teams in identifying link problems.
The specific requirements depend on the system architecture. A managed switch should not be assumed to support a particular redundancy protocol or recovery time unless that capability is documented for the model.
When comparing Hinet products, verify the management type and supported functions on the individual product page.
8. How to Evaluate Hinet Railway Networking Solutions
Hinet provides industrial networking products in several categories, including industrial Ethernet switches and railway-oriented switch products such as EN50155 industrial switches for railway networks.
For railway projects, the most useful approach is to start with the system specification and then identify the product configuration that satisfies it. The principles of industrial PoE switch selection for railway applications—port count, power budget, and environmental rating—also carry over from other industrial deployments.
Review the Hinet Product Center to identify available industrial networking products. The Hinet industrial switch category can help buyers compare compact industrial mounting options, while the rack-mounted industrial switch category provides a starting point for evaluating rack-format equipment.
These categories should be treated as discovery resources, not proof that every listed switch is qualified for onboard railway installation.
Before approving a model, request and review the following information:
| Requirement |
What to verify |
| Railway compliance |
Applicable EN 50155 documentation and scope |
| Operating temperature |
Confirmed operating range, including -40°C to +75°C if required |
| Shock and vibration |
Applicable test standard, category, class, and evidence |
| Power inputs |
Number of inputs, input voltage range, and redundancy behavior |
| Ethernet ports |
Port count, speed, and interface type |
| Fiber uplinks |
Transceiver compatibility and supported distance |
| EMC |
Applicable railway or industrial EMC documentation |
| Surge protection |
Documented test levels and protected interfaces |
| Management |
VLAN, QoS, monitoring, and redundancy functions if required |
| Warranty |
Written warranty period and coverage for the exact model |
The model should be approved only after the technical requirements and supporting documents have been reviewed.
9. A Practical Railway Ethernet Switch Selection Checklist
Before placing an order, railway engineers and procurement teams should answer the following questions.
Application and location
- Will the switch be installed onboard a railway vehicle or in trackside infrastructure?
- What environmental and railway standards apply?
- What mechanical mounting arrangement is required?
Environmental performance
- What operating temperature range is required?
- What shock and vibration criteria apply?
- What EMC and enclosure-protection requirements must be met?
Power and connectivity
- What DC input range is available at the installation point?
- Is redundant power required?
- How many copper and fiber ports are needed?
- Does the system require PoE, and what is the total power budget?
Network architecture
- Are managed features required?
- Is network redundancy necessary?
- What level of fault monitoring and diagnostics is expected?
Procurement and lifecycle
- Are the technical datasheet and compliance documents available?
- Is the product's lifecycle suitable for the project?
- What warranty and technical support are provided?
- Can the manufacturer confirm the exact model configuration in writing?
A structured review reduces the risk of selecting equipment that appears suitable in a catalogue but does not meet the project's installation or compliance requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is an EN 50155 industrial Ethernet switch?
It is an Ethernet switch designed and qualified for applicable railway rolling-stock requirements under EN 50155. Buyers should verify the exact model's compliance documentation and confirm that it covers the intended installation.
2. Is an operating temperature range of -40°C to +75°C enough for railway use?
No. Wide-temperature operation is only one consideration. The complete application may also require documented shock and vibration performance, EMC compliance, appropriate power-input behavior, and other railway-specific qualifications.
3. Why is shock and vibration resistance important for railway Ethernet switches?
Railway vehicles experience mechanical loads that can affect connectors, mounting systems, and internal components. The required resistance depends on the installation location and project specification. Relevant test evidence should be checked for the exact model.
4. Does a switch with dual power inputs guarantee redundancy?
Not necessarily. Confirm whether both inputs can operate simultaneously, how the switch behaves if one supply fails, and whether the power sources are sufficiently independent to meet the project's availability requirements.
5. What is the difference between EN 50155 and EN 61373?
EN 50155 covers electronic equipment used on rolling stock, including relevant operating and environmental conditions. EN 61373 addresses shock and vibration testing for railway equipment. They serve different purposes, so one should not be treated as a substitute for the other.
6. Can any Hinet industrial Ethernet switch be used onboard a train?
No. Suitability depends on the
