Braking Systems
Game-changing innovation in brakes
We supply rail customers throughout the world with the safest, most reliable and cost-effective braking systems and components.
Our advanced brake technology is helping deliver tomorrow’s sustainable, efficient platforms for metro, regional and high-speed trains.
Rail operators and car builders are looking for safe, smart and light brake systems that cut total cost of ownership and improve energy efficiency, performance and reliability. Wabtec leverages its historic experience and global expertise to develop the most advanced, versatile and green systems on the market.
We offer a comprehensive range of innovative and proven brake products for metro, regional and high-speed trains. These include ultra-light, integrated brake control platforms for both metro (Metroflexx) and mainline (Regioflexx).
By investing in innovation, we are supporting our clients to achieve their objectives in sustainability, digitization and total cost of ownership. We are reducing the weight and size of components to improve energy efficiency and helping improve air quality by reducing dust produced by friction elements. Our connected solutions are lowering installation and maintenance costs while improving safety.
Wabtec Braking Systems
Game-changing innovation
Additive Manufacturing for Next-Generation Brake Systems
This game-changing technology reduces the overall weight of components, decreases lead times for spare parts, and enables product-function integration that limits the need for equipment maintenance. In addition, additive manufacturing significantly reduces energy consumption, making it a more environmentally friendly and sustainable solution. Learn how we’re using additive manufacturing to design and develop next-generation braking systems like Metroflexx and Regioflexx.
From Metroflexx to the new Regioflexx
When it comes to brakes, reliability and performance are top priority. Train operators need to know their systems are safe and that they work well – even in degraded conditions. However, if they are to run their networks efficiently, operators also need their braking systems to be competitive in terms of their maintainability and cost-effectiveness, as well as the extra features they provide to get trains ready for the future. With Metroflexx, Wabtec has established a best-in-class reputation for providing all these benefits to metro operators. Our new Regioflexx system now sets the bar even higher with a next-generation offer for suburban, intercity, regional and high-speed trains.
Technical Paper: Breaking a technology lock to make rail transport systems more efficient
Everyone expects and wants greater efficiency in rail transportation, but due to urban concentration and a lack of funding, it seems very unlikely that the infrastructure will be expanded. The only way to improve rail transportation performance is therefore by running more trains per hour on existing tracks. To do this, we need to overcome the challenge of braking performance limitations due to adhesion between wheels and rails....
SIL 4 Wheel Slide Protection System: Myth or Reality?
Accurate and consistent braking distance is required regardless of adhesion conditions – many operators are looking to increase safety in wheel slide protection (WSP) systems, especially during emergency brake application. Our SIL 4 Wise™ board is helping us to do just that. When trains are equipped with Wise™, the SIL 4 watchdog function eliminates safety concerns while the monitoring function maintains optimal performance in low adhesion conditions. The system also greatly reduces operator maintenance costs through improved rail-to-wheel energy management.
DistanceMaster™ by Wabtec: We don’t just make braking distance reproducible, but we also improve it in impressive proportions!
As the greenest form of passenger transport, rail travel is at the heart of the matter when it comes to lowering emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG). It is therefore essential to find ways to accommodate more people on the network while providing a comfortable passenger experience...
Green Friction Technology: Tackling fine particle pollution in tunnels
Pollution – whether of oceans, groundwater or air – is one of the hot-button topics of our age. Reducing air pollution from automotive emissions has long been the primary objective of research and development, but equally, the issue of air quality in train tunnels is also a major concern. Wabtec is tackling this challenge through next generation friction technology that drastically reduces brake emissions.
Why Tomorrow’s Trains Won’t Have to Choose Between Customization and Competitiveness
From the George Westinghouse distributor valve to the SAB slack adjuster and BFC tread brake, Wabtec builds on over 150 years of train brake expertise in our continuous effort to introduce innovative braking solutions. Today, we’ve redoubled our focus on the areas of product validation and certification to address brakes’ three main subsystems...