GSM-R
GSM-R, Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway or GSM-Railway is an international wireless communications standard for railway communication and applications.
A sub-system of European Rail Traffic Management System, it is used for communication between train and railway regulation control centers. The system is based on GSM and EIRENE – MORANE specifications which guarantee performance at speeds up to 500 km/h, without any communication loss.
GSM-R could be supplanted by LTE-R, with the first production implementation being in South Korea. However, LTE is generally considered to be a "4G" protocol, and the UIC's Future Railway Mobile Communication System program is considering moving to something "5G"-based, thus skipping two technological generations.
History
GSM-R is built on GSM technology, and benefits from the economies of scale of its GSM technology heritage, aiming at being a cost efficient digital replacement for existing incompatible in-track cable and analogue railway radio networks. Over 35 different such systems are reported to exist in Europe alone.The standard is the result of over ten years of collaboration between the various European railway companies, with the goal of achieving interoperability using a single communication platform. GSM-R is part of the European Rail Traffic Management System standard and carries the signaling information directly to the train driver, enabling higher train speeds and traffic density with a high level of safety.
The specifications were finalized in 2000, based on the European Union-funded MORANE project. The specification is being maintained by the International Union of Railways project ERTMS. GSM-R has been selected by 38 countries across the world, including all member states of the European Union and countries in Asia, Eurasia and northern Africa.
GSM-R is a secure platform for voice and data communication between railway operational staff, including drivers, dispatchers, shunting team members, train engineers, and station controllers. It delivers features such as group calls, voice broadcast, location-based connections, and call pre-emption in case of an emergency. This supports applications such as cargo tracking, video surveillance in trains and at stations, and passenger information services.
GSM-R is typically implemented using dedicated base station masts close to the railway, with tunnel coverage effected using directional antennae or 'leaky' feeder transmission. The distance between the base stations is. This creates a high degree of redundancy and higher availability and reliability. In Germany, Italy and France the GSM-R network has between 3,000 and 4,000 base stations. In areas where the European Train Control System Level 2 or 3 is used, the train maintains a circuit switched digital modem connection to the train control center at all times. This modem operates with higher priority than normal users. If the modem connection is lost, the train will automatically stop.
Upper system
GSM-R is one part of ERTMS which is composed of:- ETCS
- GSM-R
- ETML
- EOR
Frequency band
GSM-R is standardized to be implemented in either the E-GSM or DCS 1800 frequency band which are both being used around the world.Europe
Europe includes the CEPT member states, which include all EU members and Albania, Andorra, Azerbaijan, Bosnia Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Vatican City.Although previously members of the CEPT, Belarus and Russia had their memberships suspended, indefinitely, with effect from 00:00
GSM-R uses a specific frequency band, which can be referred to as the "standard" GSM-R band:
- Uplink: 876–880 MHz used for data transmission
- Downlink: 921–925 MHz used for data reception
China
GSM-R occupies a 4 MHz wide range of the E-GSM band.- Uplink: 885–889 MHz
- Downlink: 930–934 MHz
India
GSM-R occupies a 1.6 MHz wide range of the P-GSM band held by Indian Railways:- Uplink: 907.8–909.4 MHz
- Downlink: 952.8–954.4 MHz
Australia
GSM-R is being implemented within DCS 1800 band- Uplink: 1,770–1,785 MHz
- Downlink: 1,865–1,880 MHz
State rail operators re-licensed 2 x 10 MHz of 1800 MHz spectrum in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney for Rail Safety and Control Communications. All except for South Australian Department of Planning Transport and Infrastructure re-licensed 2 x 5 MHz of 1800 MHz spectrum at commercial rates set by Australian Government.
Technical frequency usage in GSM-R
The used modulation is GMSK modulation. GSM-R is a TDMA system. Data transmission is made of periodical TDMA frames, for each carrier frequency. Each TDMA frame is divided in 8 time slots, named logical channels, carrying 148 bits of information.There are worries that LTE mobile communication will disturb GSM-R, since it has been given a frequency band rather close to GSM-R. This could cause ETCS disturbances, random emergency braking because of lost communications etc.
As a result, there is an increasing trend towards monitoring and managing GSM-R interference using active and automated testing on board trains and trackside.
Current GSM-R version
The GSM-R standard specification is divided in two EIRENE specifications:- Functional Requirement Specification : the definition of higher lever functional requirements
- System Requirement Specification : the definition of the technical solutions supporting the functional requirements
The GSM-R specifications are fairly stable; the latest mandatory upgrade was in 2006. The complete timeline of GSM-R versions is:
- December 2000: FRS 5/SRS 13, first version to be widely installed
- October 2003: FRS 6/SRS 14
- May 2006: FRS 7/SRS 15, current TSI
- June 2010: FRS7.1/SRS 15.1, current Interim version; the main added features over TSI are shunting radio and ETCS data only radio
GSM-R uses
GSM-R permits new services and applications for mobile communications in several domains:- Transmission of Long Line Public Address announcements to remote stations down the line
- Control and protection and ERTMS
- Communication between train driver and regulation center
- Communication of on-board working people
- Information sending for ETCS
- Communication between train stations, classification yard and rail tracks
Like other GSM devices, GSM-R equipment can transmit data and voice. New GSM-R features for mobile communication are based on GSM, and are specified by EIRENE project. Call features are:PtP Call: Point-to-Point Call, the same type of call as a normal GSM callVGCS: Voice Group Call System, quite similar to walkie-talkie communication but with a single uplink handled by the network VBS: Voice Broadcast System, like a VGCS but only the call initiator can speak REC: Railways Emergency Call, is a special VGCS defined as 299 with the highest priority possible SEC: Shunting Emergency Call, is a special VGCS defined as 599 with the highest priority possible
- Priority control of all the different calls
GSM-R features
ASCI (Advanced Speech Call Items) features
The following definitions are a part of the System Requirements Specification as defined by the EIRENE standard.SEC (Shunting Emergency Call)
The Shunting Emergency Call is a dedicated group call with the number 599. The call is established with an emergency level priority whose level is the highest possible priority 0. The SEC is enabled and used by devices registered for shunting operations. The establishment of such a call leads to automatic acceptance of the call on all enabled devices within the current area or cell-group configured.GSM-R Numbering Plan
The EIRENE SRS document defines a fixed numbering plan for GSM-R. It is defined by number prefixes.Those numbers are used for functional registration and fixed entries for MSISDN or short dialcodes as defined within the HLR. 807660 for example defines a MSISDN of a mobile subscriber. The number 23030301 would be a functional number associated with the train number 30303 and the role of the user 01.
GSM-R market
GSM-R market groups
Different groups make up the GSM-R market:;The network operators and the railway operators:
Railways using GSM-R
Australia
Transport NSW is installing a Digital Train Radio System throughout the electrified rail network, including 66 tunnels covering, bounded by Kiama, Macarthur, Lithgow, Bondi Junction and Newcastle with GSM-R to replace the existing analogue MetroNet train radio. The replacement will fulfil recommendations from the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Waterfall rail accident to provide a common platform of communication for staff working on the railway. The equipment will be installed at about 250 locations and more than 60 sites in tunnels. The old analogue network was dismantled in 2020.Public Transport Victoria has installed a Digital Train Radio System on the Melbourne train network with GSM-R to replace the old system called Urban Train Radio System. The equipment was installed at about 100 locations. It cost $152 million.
France
In France, the first commercial railway route opened with full GSM-R coverage is the LGV Est européenne linking Paris Gare de l'Est to Strasbourg. It was opened on 10 June 2007.- On Sunday, 10 June 2007 at 06:43, the first high speed train to run on it was the ICE, the high speed train from the German passenger operator: Deutsche Bahn. It linked the Gare de l'Est in Paris to Saarbrücken.
- On the same day, at 07:15, it was the opportunity of the TGV POS, the latest generation high speed train from the French operator, SNCF. It linked Strasbourg to Paris.
Italy
As of 2008, in Italy more than of railway lines are served by the GSM-R infrastructure: this number includes both ordinary and high speed lines, as well as more than of tunnels. Roaming agreements with other Italian mobile operators allow coverage of lines not directly served by GSM-R. Roaming agreements have also been set up with French and Swiss railway companies and it is planned to extend them to other countries.Netherlands
In the Netherlands, there is coverage on all the lines and the old system called Telerail was abandoned in favour of GSM-R in 2006.Norway
In Norway, the GSM-R network was opened on all lines on 1 January 2007, replacing the older Scanet network.Currently, Jan Erik Grytdal and his team are tasked to operate and maintain the network that covers the whole 4200 km long Norwegian railway network. He is supported by Jon Greger Madsen, Goran Lazic and Shelley Zhou for the core network while Øyvind Risan is the radio man. Einar Mogstad, Morten Helle, Frederik Norberg and Ameen Chilwan are the network planners. Additionally, he is leading a dynamic team of highly qualified professionals; Stein Svaet, Geir Olav Lauritzen and Tore Øwre who are actively working towards migrating from GSM-R technology to the new 5G-based technology called FRMCS. The services provided by the team are managed by Rune Nordgård, Tina Brækken and Gro Sjåland while Amalie Forfod controls finances. Since 17% of the railway network in Norway is in the tunnels, GSM-R also covers the tunnels. In Norway most tunnels have repeater solutions, and Thomas Hirsch and Morten Bakkeli are the people in charge for them.
United Kingdom
The implementation of over of GSM-R enabled railway, intended to replace both its legacy VHF 205 MHz National Radio Network and UHF 450 MHz suburban Cab Secure Radio systems is now complete as of January 2016.- By October 2013, both the West Coast Main Line and East Coast Main Line to Scotland were covered by GSM-R and UK train operator Northern Rail had implemented GSM-R on a significant number of routes in North and North-West of England.
- In spring 2013, the Association of Train Operating Companies' website GSM-R Online announced that the implementation of the Southern half of the UK GSM-R system was complete as the final CA15 section had gone live. Infrastructure and installation work continued North of this division. Britain's GSM-R network was originally expected to be fully operational by 2013, but due to slippage in equipment fitting a later date became more likely. However, a Rail Safety & Standards Board indicated that the UK's Telecommunications Regulator, Ofcom, was to withdraw the existing NRN 205 MHz frequencies by 2015. Britain's GSM-R network's cost was originally put at £1.2 billion. That cost though did not include the WCML.
- The Cambrian Line ERTMS – Pwllheli to Harlech Rehearsal commenced on 13 February 2010 and successfully finished on 18 February 2010. The driver familiarisation and practical handling stage of the Rehearsal had provided an excellent opportunity to monitor the use of GSM-R voice in operation on this route. The first train departed Pwllheli at 08:53hrs in ERTMS Level 2 Operation with GSM-R voice being used as the only means of communication between the driver and the signaller.
- Network Rail fitted out a test train at Derby it purchased for RSV testing of the GSM-R network. The train was formed from ex Gatwick Express stock. At a cost of £5.9 million, this custom-built machine known as the RSV train started monitoring the Newport Synergy scheme and the Cambrian Line.
- On 2 September 2009, the Rugby to Stoke section went live.
- The first train to use GSM-R on the south end of the WCML ran on 27 May 2009. This was the first vehicle to run in passenger service with GSM-R outside of the Strathclyde trial.
- A fully functional GSM-R system had been on trial on the North Clyde Line in Scotland since 2007. For some years before these trials commenced however, GSM-R had been in use for voice-only purposes – known as the 'Interim Voice Radio System' – in some locations where axle counters are used for train detection, for example parts of the WCML between Crewe and Wembley.