By TEBAOFLEX Jyen. Originally published on May 22, 2026.
Read the family and part together
EN 50306 covers railway rolling-stock cables with thin-wall constructions. EN 50264 covers power and control cable constructions, including conventional and reduced-dimension versions. These are not interchangeable labels for the same wire.
For the 2008 EN 50264 series, the -2-1 and -2-2 branches cover the conventional-dimension constructions; the -3-1 and -3-2 branches explicitly cover reduced dimensions. The final part distinguishes single-core from multicore constructions. Specify the complete part and edition, not just EN 50264.
Voltage and duty come before packaging savings
EN 50306-2:2020 single-core cables have a rated voltage U0/U of 300/300 V. Do not treat the entire thin-wall family as a generic 300/500 V replacement, or substitute it for a higher-voltage EN 50264 circuit because the conductor area matches.
The applicable EN 50264 single-core parts include several voltage grades. The selected construction, screening and sheathing must match the electrical installation. Standard rolling-stock wiring for fixed or limited-flexing use is not thereby qualified for a continuously moving inter-car jumper.
Calculate space and mass with actual cable data
Use the approved cable diameter and mass per metre for each circuit. For a circular cable, occupied cross-sectional area scales with the square of diameter, but a tray or harness fill calculation also includes packing, separation and installation rules.
Illustrative arithmetic only: replacing 40 km of a 26.5 kg/km cable with an 18.2 kg/km cable saves 332 kg. A separate (80/12) km run changing from 342 to 218 kg/km saves approximately 826.67 kg. Their total is about 1,158.67 kg, not a verified saving on any train.
Operating energy savings cannot be inferred from cable mass alone. Duty cycles, regenerative braking, gradients, service life and the validated vehicle model determine the result. No fleet energy-saving percentage is claimed.
Fire performance is a documented assembly requirement
Identify the applicable EN 45545-2 requirement set and hazard level for the actual location and vehicle. Check reports for the exact cable family and approved size range rather than assuming that a halogen-free compound or an EN 50264 label automatically establishes HL3.
Thin insulation also needs suitable stripping tools, terminals, support and protection from abrasion. Minimum wall thickness is not a license to reduce mechanical protection or exceed the cable bending limits. Check connector seals and retention against the actual outer diameter.
Information for a replacement specification
Provide the original cable designation, circuit voltage, conductor area, current, routing, temperature and fluid exposure. Require traceable dimensional, electrical, fire and environmental evidence, and obtain the vehicle design authority approval for substitutions. This article does not certify a TEBAOFLEX batch or manufacturing process.
Primary references and specification evidence
The references explain the cited technology or manufacturer example. They are not TEBAOFLEX product approvals or evidence that a supplied batch has passed the tests. Request the exact product drawing, specification edition, acceptance criteria and traceable records.
Discuss your application
Discuss the duty, installation and required documentary evidence with TEBAOFLEX. WhatsApp: +86 185 9591 3361. Product suitability and test obligations must be confirmed for the specific order.