Rail-hardened Ethernet switching for transit networks
Antaira introduces an 18-port industrial Ethernet switch for onboard rail systems requiring high availability, environmental resilience, and managed Gigabit connectivity.
www.antaira.com
Antaira has expanded its railway networking portfolio with an 18-port rail-hardened Gigabit Ethernet switch designed to support data-intensive, safety-critical onboard systems in modern transit and rolling stock applications.
Addressing connectivity requirements in rail environments
Onboard rail networks increasingly consolidate passenger information systems, CCTV, wireless access points, HVAC controls, diagnostics, and control interfaces on a shared Ethernet infrastructure. This convergence places high demands on bandwidth, deterministic behavior, redundancy, and environmental robustness.
The Antaira LMX-1802G-M12-10G-SFP-67-110-T is designed for these conditions, combining managed Gigabit Ethernet switching, Power over Ethernet, and railway-certified mechanical and electromagnetic protection in a single platform for transit deployments.
Port configuration and network architecture
The switch provides sixteen Gigabit Ethernet copper ports using M12 X-coded connectors (10/100/1000BASE-T), selected for vibration resistance and signal integrity under continuous mechanical stress. For backbone and aggregation connectivity, the device integrates two uplink slots supporting 1G or 10G SFP+ modules, enabling high-bandwidth links between cars or to central onboard network nodes.
This port mix supports hierarchical onboard network topologies, where edge devices such as cameras and displays connect via copper links while data aggregation and inter-car communication use fiber or high-speed uplinks.
Redundancy mechanisms for mission-critical operation
Rail systems require predictable behavior during faults, as network interruptions can affect safety-relevant and passenger-facing services. The LMX-1802G-M12-10G-SFP-67-110-T incorporates an integrated bypass function that automatically reroutes traffic if a connected device or segment loses power. This mechanism helps maintain data flow for essential systems without requiring manual intervention.
At the protocol level, the switch supports ITU-T G.8032 Ethernet Ring Protection Switching (ERPS v2), enabling sub-50 ms recovery times in ring topologies. This aligns with carrier-grade redundancy requirements commonly adopted in rail and transit networks.
Environmental and mechanical suitability
The switch is housed in a metal enclosure rated IP67, providing protection against dust ingress and temporary water immersion. It is specified for operation across a temperature range from −40 °C to +70 °C, covering the thermal extremes encountered in rolling stock installations.
These characteristics address typical rail stress factors such as vibration, shock, moisture, and airborne contaminants, which can degrade standard industrial networking equipment.
Managed functions and traffic control
For controlled operation within complex onboard networks, the switch includes Light Layer 3 management features. Supported functions include VLAN and GVRP for network segmentation, Quality of Service for prioritizing latency-sensitive traffic, and IGMP snooping to manage multicast streams used by video and passenger information systems.
Security and access control are implemented through multi-user role management, SNMP monitoring, RADIUS and TACACS+ authentication, IP source guard, and encrypted management interfaces via SSH and SSL. Link aggregation, both static and LACP-based, is available to increase bandwidth and resilience on critical links.
Power delivery for onboard devices
Integrated PoE+ capability supplies up to 30 W per port, allowing direct powering of IP cameras, wireless access points, and other powered endpoints from the switch. Centralized power delivery simplifies installation, reduces additional cabling and power supplies, and supports consistent power management within the onboard network.
Compliance with railway standards
The LMX-1802G-M12-10G-SFP-67-110-T is certified to key railway standards, including EN 50155 for electronic equipment used on rolling stock, EN 50121-3-2 for electromagnetic emissions, and EN 50121-4 for electromagnetic immunity. Compliance with these standards is essential for integration into certified rail vehicles and ensures predictable performance in electrically noisy environments.
By combining high-density Gigabit connectivity, redundancy mechanisms, PoE power delivery, and railway-certified environmental protection, Antaira’s switch addresses the technical requirements of modern rail Ethernet infrastructures where availability and deterministic behavior are critical.
www.antaira.com
