be reconfigured to suit passenger needs. These require latching mechanisms to support the process of folding or moving seats, tables and other elements to create a space for luggage, wheelchairs and bikes. Southco has worked with rail seat manufacturers to develop unique accessibility solutions that are safe and secure, based around their rotary latching system and hinge offering. This rotary latching system uses a simple
square key as an actuator that triggers cables to release latches, allowing staff to move seating fixtures in a rail carriage. To reverse this process spring-loaded locking pins automatically engage in both positions for reliable hold, while friction hinges prevent the headrest and seat surface from dropping unexpectedly. Such small components can often be
overlooked in terms of sustainability but can have a big impact. For example, premium products will far outlast cheaper ones, which will not be as durable and may need to be replaced two or three times during the life of the vehicle. You might be able to save up to 20% on upfront costs, but the cost of ownership could skyrocket due to lower
reputation and maintenance downtime. It’s also worth noting that Southco supports
sustainability in-house. This includes using recycled plastics wherever possible, and reusing leftover injection moulding plastic with their regrind process.
With decades of experience and an extensive range of standardised products, Southco’s
already done the heavy lifting – the design work, testing and problem-solving – so you don’t have to. From fast access panels to secure
maintenance points, Southco’s access hardware saves you time, reduces costs and supports smarter, more sustainable, train design.
Not only do the doors prevent accidental falls,
stop trespassing and regulate boarding, but in underground stations they also help maintain platform temperature by separating the station from the tunnels. This keeps passengers comfortable, while saving the power that would be required to heat/cool the station. However, these doors must perform countless
cycles of opening and closing, all while enduring heavy passenger traffic, dust, moisture and fluctuations in temperature. They are also
expected to be highly reliable and completely silent, maintaining a seamless experience for commuters. Motor drive systems are used to
drive these, with their performance directly bound to the efficiency and safety of the wider transport network.
Micromotors play a vital role in ensuring the smooth and continuous operation of platform doors. They need to be durable enough to handle constant use, silent enough to avoid contributing to an already noisy environment, and reliable enough to run day after day with minimal downtime. Equipment manufacturers seek compact
motors that are easy to integrate into tight mechanical spaces without sacrificing torque or performance. When chosen carefully, a motor solution enhances both passenger safety and operational efficiency over the full lifecycle of the equipment. Bühler’s 63mm gear motors are
known for their quiet running, making them ideal for installation inside platform doors. Despite the motor’s small size, it provides the torque required for heavy doors, to ensure they slide smoothly without using too much power. Another advantageous area of Bühler’s
offer is its bMotion modular drive platform of DC motors, gear boxes, brakes and encoders. The bMotion
system is particularly beneficial for sliding doors, as it allows manufacturers to customise drive solutions by combining pre-validated components to suit specific operational needs. This modular approach not only simplifies
installation and purchasing but also ensures flexibility and scalability, making it easier to adapt to a variety of platform door configurations and performance requirements. While platform doors provide a clear physical barrier to keep passengers safe, it’s the smart motor systems behind them that ensure their reliability. Choosing the right motor technology is fundamental to the efficiency of train lines and the safety of passengers, and selecting robust, low noise and high-power motors play a key role in keeping train traffic flowing.
43
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
