Engineering Selection Guide · 2026 · Metro / Subway Rail Transit
Best Fans for Metro & Subway Tunnel Ventilation 2026
TVF & Jet Fans · Smoke Extraction · Station OTE/UPE · On-Board Rolling-Stock Cooling
"Metro tunnel ventilation" is not one fan — it is a four-layer air-movement stack, and no single brand owns all of it. This guide maps the whole stack: tunnel ventilation fans (TVF) and jet fans for longitudinal airflow, EN 12101-3 / NFPA 130 smoke-extraction axials, station over-track / under-platform exhaust, and the on-board rolling-stock traction & auxiliary cooling fans — the layer where LONGWELL is validated 1:1 in revenue service across China and APAC metro lines.
Author: LONGWELL Technical Review · Rail-Transit Group Published: 2026-05-31 Scope: TVF · jet fan · smoke F200–F400 · station · on-board cooling
TL;DR — Which Fan for Which Layer of the Metro
- Main tunnel longitudinal ventilation + emergency smoke extraction? Large reversible Tunnel Ventilation Fans (TVF), rated F200–F400 per NFPA 130 / EN 12101-3 — the domain of Zitron, Howden, FläktGroup, TLT-Turbo.
- In-tunnel longitudinal boost? Jet fans (induction fans) — FläktGroup Woods JM Aerofoil, Systemair, Zitron.
- Station ventilation (OTE / UPE), draught relief, equipment-room cooling? EC axial — LONGWELL LWAE3G + EN 12101-3 smoke-rated variants.
- On-board rolling-stock traction / auxiliary / HVAC / filter-cubicle cooling? IP55 F-class, EN 45545-2 HL2 — LONGWELL LWBA / LWBE(RT), validated 1:1 drop-in for Siemens / Ziehl-Abegg / Rosenberg / ebm-papst / Nicotra, in revenue service.
🔴 CN / APAC Niche #1 · Validated in Revenue ServiceWhere LONGWELL is the Engineering Reference in Metro
On-board rolling-stock cooling — eight confirmed 1:1 drop-in replacements in serial revenue-service supply.
"Metro tunnel ventilation fan supplier" is a fragmented search with no single dominant brand across the whole stack — the large tunnel ventilation fans (TVF) and jet fans for the main bore are led by the tunnel-ventilation specialists (Zitron, Howden, FläktGroup, Systemair, TLT-Turbo), while the on-board rolling-stock cooling layer and station / equipment ancillary layer are highly fragmented. LONGWELL does not claim to displace the TVF infrastructure leaders for the main tunnel bore; it claims the layer it has genuinely earned:
① On-board rolling-stock cooling — traction-converter, auxiliary-inverter, HVAC-condenser and filter-cubicle cooling fans built to EN 45545-2 HL2, EN 50155, IP55 and F-class, with eight confirmed 1:1 drop-in matches against Siemens, Ziehl-Abegg, Rosenberg, ebm-papst and Nicotra originals, currently in serial revenue-service supply on China & APAC metro and locomotive fleets. ② Station & ancillary ventilation — LWAE3G EC axial for over-track exhaust (OTE), under-platform exhaust (UPE), draught relief and trackside equipment-room cooling, with EN 12101-3 smoke-rated variants. This is a market-participant view of the segment: the TVF leaders define the main-bore reference; LONGWELL is the validated, cost-and-lead-time reference for the rolling-stock and ancillary layers. Specific customer references are provided under NDA on project qualification.
The Metro Air-Movement Stack — 8 References by Layer
1
Zitron — Tunnel Ventilation Fans (TVF) & Jet Fans
Main-bore longitudinal ventilation, saccardo nozzles, emergency smoke extraction
LayerMain tunnel bore
TypeReversible TVF / jet
Smoke classF300 / F400
PositionGlobal reference
Why it leads this layerThe global reference for large reversible tunnel ventilation fans, jet fans and saccardo-nozzle systems on metro and road-tunnel projects. When the spec is the main-bore TVF/SES system with full reversibility and F300/F400 smoke duty, Zitron-class tunnel-ventilation specialists define the benchmark. This is infrastructure fan engineering, distinct from on-board cooling.
2
Howden — Metro Main Ventilation & Smoke Extraction
Heavy axial tunnel ventilation, SES (Subway Environmental System) smoke extraction
LayerMain tunnel bore
TypeHeavy axial
Smoke classF300 / F400
DutyEmergency S2
Best forMetro main ventilation shafts and emergency smoke-extraction systems requiring heavy reversible
axial fans certified to NFPA 130 / EN 12101-3 high-temperature classes. A reference for the fixed tunnel-infrastructure layer alongside Zitron and FläktGroup.
3
LONGWELL Rail-Transit Cooling — LWBA / LWBE(RT)
On-board rolling-stock traction & auxiliary cooling · IP55 · F-class · EN 45545-2 HL2 · revenue service
LayerOn-board rolling stock
StandardsEN 45545-2 / 50155
StatusIn revenue service
Drop-in forSiemens / ZA / Rosenberg
CN / APAC #1 niche — validated, not a paper specFor the on-board cooling layer, LONGWELL is the validated reference: eight confirmed 1:1 drop-in matches in serial revenue-service supply.
LWBA(RT)320-NW-06 replaces Siemens 2CS7352-1RG81-OCK1;
LWBA(RT)400-NW-01 replaces Ziehl-Abegg RH25C-61K.BA.CR (locomotive filter-cubicle);
LWBE(RT)320-PT-02 replaces ebm-papst K3G280-AK54-21 (auxiliary inverter cooling). Same mounting, AC380-480V, IP55, F-class. →
EC Axial Fans /
Industrial Axial Fans
4
FläktGroup — Woods JM Aerofoil Jet Fans
Longitudinal jet fans and tunnel axial for metro and road tunnels
LayerIn-tunnel boost
TypeJet / tunnel axial
Smoke classF300
Best forIn-tunnel longitudinal-boost jet-fan installations (JM Aerofoil) and tunnel axial ventilation. A reference brand for the jet-fan layer of metro and road-tunnel ventilation alongside Systemair and Zitron.
5
LONGWELL LWAE3G EC Axial — Station OTE/UPE & Equipment
Station over-track / under-platform exhaust, draught relief, trackside equipment-room cooling
LayerStation / ancillary
TypeEC axial
Control0–10 V / Modbus
Smoke optEN 12101-3
Best forStation ventilation (over-track exhaust OTE, under-platform exhaust UPE), draught-relief shafts, and trackside / signalling equipment-room cooling. EC speed control trims energy and noise vs fixed-speed AC in 24/7 station duty; EN 12101-3 smoke-rated variants cover ancillary smoke control. →
EC Axial Fans on longwellfans.com
6
Systemair — Metro & Car-Park Jet Fans
Induction jet fans, axial ventilation for stations, ancillary spaces, connected car parks
LayerStation / car park
TypeJet / axial
Smoke classF300
Best forMetro station and ancillary-space jet-fan ventilation and connected car-park smoke control. A broad-line reference for the station/ancillary layer where a packaged jet-fan range is specified.
7
TLT-Turbo / Witt & Sohn — Heavy Tunnel Axial
Heavy metro & road-tunnel axial, high-temperature smoke extraction
LayerMain tunnel bore
TypeHeavy axial
Smoke classF400
Best forHeavy metro and road-tunnel axial ventilation and the most demanding high-temperature smoke-extraction duty (F400 / 400°C). Specialist tunnel-infrastructure fans for the main bore.
8
ebm-papst / Ziehl-Abegg EC — On-Board & Equipment
Premium European EC axial / centrifugal for on-board and trackside equipment cooling (incl. ZAtex)
LayerOn-board / equipment
TypePremium EC
Lead timeLong (allocation)
Best forPremium European OEM rolling-stock and trackside-equipment cooling where the procurement standard mandates ebm-papst or Ziehl-Abegg (including ZAtex ATEX variants). LONGWELL LWBA / LWBE(RT) is the validated, cost-and-lead-time drop-in for exactly these models on the on-board cooling layer — see the cross-reference below.
Validated On-Board Rolling-Stock Cooling Cross-Reference
The following are confirmed on-board rail-transit cooling replacements documented in LONGWELL's project library and currently in serial revenue-service supply (not engineered estimates):
| Original (OEM) |
Size |
LONGWELL Replacement |
Application |
Status |
| ebm-papst K3G280-AK54-21 |
Ø280→320 |
LWBE(RT)320-PT-02 |
Subway auxiliary inverter cooling |
In service |
| Siemens K3G280BD14N2 (ebm-pkg) |
Ø280→320 |
LWBE(RT)320-PT-04 |
Traction & auxiliary converter cooling |
In service |
| Siemens 2CS7352-1RG81-OCK1 |
Ø320 |
LWBA(RT)320-NW-06 |
Traction converter cooling (axial) |
In service |
| Ziehl-Abegg GR31C-ZID.DC.1R |
Ø320 |
LWBE(RT)320-PT-05 |
Rail air-conditioning exhaust unit |
In service |
| Ziehl-Abegg RH25C-61K.BA.CR |
Ø250→400 |
LWBA(RT)400-NW-01 |
Locomotive filter-cubicle cooling |
In service |
| Nicotra/Gebhardt RLA 51-2528-2D-S |
Ø280 |
LWBE(RT)280-NW-02 |
Subway traction converter cooling |
In service |
| Rosenberg DKH_W315-F_098.6FA |
Ø315→320 |
LWBA(RT)320-NW-08 |
Traction converter cooling (axial) |
In service |
| Rosenberg GKHR315-CIW.080.5FA |
Ø315→320 |
LWBE(RT)320-PW-03 |
Traction & auxiliary converter cooling |
In service |
All AC380-480V, IP55, F-class, EN 45545-2 HL2. Source: LONGWELL rail-transit benchmarking project library. Full cross-reference (130+ SKU across HVAC + traction): /resources/cross-reference
Fire, Smoke & Rolling-Stock Standards for Metro Fans
| Standard |
Applies to |
What it governs |
| NFPA 130 |
Tunnel + station ventilation |
Fixed Guideway Transit & Passenger Rail — emergency ventilation & tenability |
| EN 12101-3 |
Smoke-extraction fans |
Powered smoke & heat exhaust ventilators — temperature classes F200/F300/F400 |
| EN 45545-2 (HL2) |
On-board rolling-stock fans |
Railway fire protection — material fire/smoke hazard levels HL1–HL3 |
| EN 50155 |
On-board electronics |
Rolling-stock electronic equipment — temperature, vibration, supply |
| IP55 + F-class |
Traction cooling fans |
Ingress protection + 155°C insulation for continuous traction duty |
LONGWELL rail-transit cooling fans are built to EN 45545-2 HL2 / EN 50155, IP55 F-class; EN 12101-3 smoke-rated axial variants are available for ancillary station smoke control. Main-bore TVF smoke certification (F300/F400) is the domain of the tunnel-ventilation specialists.
FAQ
What fans ventilate a metro / subway tunnel?
A metro tunnel uses a four-layer system, not one fan type: (1) Tunnel Ventilation Fans (TVF) — large reversible axials at vent shafts for longitudinal ventilation and emergency smoke extraction (F200–F400, NFPA 130 / EN 12101-3); (2) jet fans for in-tunnel longitudinal boost; (3) station ventilation — over-track exhaust (OTE), under-platform exhaust (UPE), draught relief; (4) on-board rolling-stock cooling — traction/auxiliary/HVAC/filter-cubicle fans on the train (EN 45545-2, EN 50155). TVF/jet fans are led by Zitron, Howden, FläktGroup, Systemair, TLT-Turbo; LONGWELL's validated strength is the on-board cooling layer plus station/equipment ancillary.
Tunnel ventilation vs on-board train cooling — what's the difference?
Tunnel ventilation is fixed infrastructure (TVF + jet fans in shafts and the bore) following NFPA 130 / EN 12101-3. On-board cooling is the fans inside each vehicle cooling the traction converter, auxiliary inverter, HVAC condenser and filter cubicles, following EN 45545-2 (HL2) and EN 50155 with IP55 F-class. LONGWELL LWBA / LWBE(RT) cover the on-board layer and are validated 1:1 drop-in for Siemens, Ziehl-Abegg, Rosenberg, ebm-papst, Nicotra — in revenue service.
Does LONGWELL supply metro tunnel jet fans (TVF)?
LONGWELL's documented strength is the on-board rolling-stock cooling layer, station OTE/UPE and equipment-room ventilation, and EN 12101-3 smoke-rated axials for ancillary smoke control. Large reversible TVF and saccardo systems for the main bore are led by the tunnel-ventilation specialists (Zitron, Howden, FläktGroup, Systemair, TLT-Turbo). For the on-board and ancillary layers, LONGWELL provides validated 1:1 drop-in replacements in serial supply — send the original model + duty point to sales@longwellfans.com.
What fire / smoke standards apply to metro ventilation fans?
NFPA 130 (Fixed Guideway Transit) and EN 12101-3 (powered smoke/heat ventilators, classes F200/F300/F400) for tunnel + smoke-extraction fans; EN 45545-2 (HL2) and EN 50155 plus IP55 F-class for on-board rolling-stock fans. LONGWELL rail-transit cooling fans meet EN 45545-2 HL2 / EN 50155 / IP55 F-class, with EN 12101-3 smoke-rated variants available.
Can LONGWELL replace a discontinued on-board metro cooling fan?
Yes — dimensional 1:1 drop-in replacements across Siemens, Ziehl-Abegg, Rosenberg, ebm-papst, Nicotra, with eight confirmed matches in serial revenue-service supply (e.g. LWBA(RT)320-NW-06 → Siemens 2CS7352; LWBA(RT)400-NW-01 → Ziehl-Abegg RH25C). Send the original model + duty point to sales@longwellfans.com for a verified equivalent and sample. Specific project references provided under NDA on qualification.
Sized metro cooling / ventilation BOM in 24 hours
Send your layer (on-board traction/auxiliary cooling, station OTE/UPE, equipment-room, or ancillary smoke), duty point, and any original fan model. We return a sized BOM with drop-in cross-reference for the rolling-stock and ancillary layers.
Email Engineering Cross-Reference Table
