Product Selector
Transit-Grade
T8 LED Tubes.
Two platforms. One mission — eliminate failures, cut maintenance, and deliver reliable illumination across every transit application.
Two Products. One Platform.
The Railhead T8 family covers the full spectrum of transit lighting needs — from AC main illumination to direct-battery emergency circuits.
Railhead Transit™ T8 LED Tube
The industry-standard T8 platform for passenger rail and transit — engineered for harsh duty cycles, long daily runtime, and fleet consistency.
- 60,000-hour rated life — engineered for fleet duty cycles
- Up to 167 lm/W efficacy, 15W, ~2,500 lumens
- CRI 90 — superior visual comfort and color rendering
- 100–277V AC input, broad compatibility across fleet types
- Operating temp: –30°C to +50°C
- PF ≥ 0.95, THD < 15% — fleet-friendly electrical behavior
- Available in 4ft and 2ft form factors
- 10-year warranty aligned to transit maintenance reality
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Input Voltage | 100–277V AC |
| Power | 15W |
| Light Output | ~2,500 lm |
| Efficacy | Up to 167 lm/W |
| CRI | 90 |
| Lifetime | 60,000 Hours |
| Operating Temp | –30°C to +50°C |
| Warranty | 10 Years (14 hrs/day) |
| Base | G13 |
Direct 22–45VDC Emergency T8
Connects directly to rail vehicle battery systems. No ballast. No inverter. No external driver. Fewer failure points — exactly when passengers need light most.
- Direct 22–45VDC operation — no inverter, no ballast required
- 10–12W, 1,400–1,700 lumens at ≥140 lm/W
- Operating temp: –40°C to +70°C — extreme environment ready
- 60,000-hour service life
- Frosted shatter-resistant lens — transit safety compliant
- Built-in reverse polarity, UVLO, surge & thermal protection
- Standard G13 / T8 form factor — simplified retrofit
- Designed for emergency egress, vestibules & crew areas
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Input Voltage | 22–45VDC |
| Nominal Voltage | 37VDC |
| Power | 10–12W |
| Light Output | 1,400–1,700 lm |
| Efficacy | ≥140 lm/W |
| Lifetime | 60,000 Hours |
| Operating Temp | –40°C to +70°C |
| Base | G13 |
| Lens | Frosted Shatter Resistant |
Simpler Architecture.
Fewer Points of Failure.
→ Inverter
→ Ballast
→ Lamp
- 4+ components between power and light
- Multiple energy conversion losses
- Inverter failures = most common service call
- Ballast degradation over time
- Complex spare-parts inventory required
- Troubleshooting spans multiple subsystems
→ Railhead Direct-DC T8
- 2 components — battery direct to lamp
- Minimal conversion losses, higher efficiency
- No inverter to fail or service
- No ballast to replace or degrade
- Reduced spare-parts inventory
- Simplified wiring and troubleshooting
- Reverse polarity & surge protection built in
Built for the Realities
of Transit Service.
Compliance Procurement Can Trust
EN50155, AAR S9401, cUL Listed, DLC 6.0, and RoHS — covering the ratings your specification teams require and your safety inspectors expect.
Reliability-First Engineering
Not commodity LEDs. Built for rugged duty cycles, stable electrical behavior, and predictable light output — designed to reduce nuisance failures that drive unplanned labor costs.
Warranty That Transfers Risk
10-year warranty aligned to real fleet maintenance cycles — helping agencies move from constant emergency replacements to planned lifecycle management.
Up to 65% Energy Savings
Against fluorescent baselines, the T8 family delivers significant energy reduction — enabling rapid ROI across large fleets and depot facilities.
Transit Modernization Ready
Supports retrofit programs, fleet life-extension projects, and new vehicle platforms. Standard T8 / G13 form factor means simplified installation with no special tools.
Rail Team Support
Dedicated transit specialists for technical review, pilot program coordination, and integration support. Not a catalog — a partnership built on fleet experience.
It's Not the Tube Price
That Kills Budgets.
Labor, downtime, and repeat replacements are where costs compound. Fewer failures, longer life, and a 10-year warranty change the math across large fleets.
Validate Before
You Standardize.
Test performance in real service before committing to a full fleet rollout. No long-term obligation required.
- Sample units + full documentation pack
- Support for tracking maintenance and energy results
- Clear pass/fail criteria agreed upfront
- Available for both Transit™ T8 and Direct-DC Emergency T8
- No long-term commitment required
Start a Pilot Request
Tell us about your fleet and application. Our transit team will follow up within one business day.
Or call: 1-800-235-1782
Downloads & Resources.
FAQ — T8 Family.
What's the difference between the Transit™ T8 and the Direct-DC Emergency T8?
The Transit™ T8 is an AC-input main illumination tube (100–277V) for everyday passenger lighting — rated for harsh duty cycles and EN/AAR compliance. The Direct 22–45VDC Emergency T8 is purpose-built for emergency egress circuits, connecting directly to the vehicle battery at 22–45VDC with no ballast or inverter in the circuit. They share the same G13/T8 form factor and 60,000-hour life target, but serve different circuit types.
Why does the Direct-DC T8 not need a ballast or inverter?
Traditional emergency lamps run on AC power and require an inverter to convert DC battery power, plus a ballast to drive the lamp. The Direct-DC T8 contains its own DC-input driver electronics, accepting 22–45VDC directly. This eliminates the inverter and ballast entirely — removing two of the most common failure points in emergency lighting systems.
Is the Transit™ T8 eligible for utility rebates?
Yes — DLC 6.0 listed models support rebate pathways where applicable. Contact your utility or our rail team for current program details in your region.
What is the warranty on each product?
The Transit™ T8 carries a 10-year warranty aligned to a 14-hour/day duty cycle. Contact our sales team for warranty terms on the Direct-DC Emergency T8, as these can be tailored to specific fleet and application requirements.
Can we test before committing to a full fleet rollout?
Yes — we offer a structured 30-day pilot program for both products. It includes sample units, documentation, agreed pass/fail criteria, and support for tracking real-service results. No long-term commitment is required upfront.
How does the T8 family handle vibration and extreme temperatures?
Both products are engineered for rail and transit operating environments. The Transit™ T8 is rated for –30°C to +50°C and validated against EN50155 and AAR S9401 vibration and shock requirements. The Direct-DC Emergency T8 extends the thermal range to –40°C to +70°C to cover battery room and emergency egress environments.
Reduce Maintenance.
Standardize Performance.
Talk to our transit lighting team about pilot programs, fleet integration, or retrofit planning for either T8 platform.