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 (ERTMS), it is used for communication between train and railway regulation control centres. The system is based on GSM and EIRENE – MORANE specifications which guarantee performance at speeds up to 500 km/h (310 mph), without any communication loss.

GSM-R mast and cabinet, Abergavenny, Wales
GSM-R Repeater at Dean Clough, Bolton, NW England
GSM-R directional antennas pointing into the east end of the Freudenstein tunnel, Germany
GSM-R 'Shark's-Fin' Mobile Antenna as fitted to a substantial amount of UK rail motive power

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.[1]

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 (ERTMS) standard and carries the signalling information directly to the train driver, enabling higher train speeds and traffic density with a high level of safety.

The specifications were finalised in 2000, based on the European Union-funded MORANE (Mobile Radio for Railways Networks in Europe) 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 (VGCS), voice broadcast (VBS), location-based connections, and call pre-emption in case of an emergency. This will support 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 7–15 km. 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 (ETCS) Level 2 or 3 is used, the train maintains a circuit switched digital modem connection to the train control centre at all times. This modem operates with higher priority than normal users (eMLPP). If the modem connection is lost, the train will automatically stop.

Upper system

GSM-R is one part of ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) which is composed of:

Frequency band

GSM-R is standardised to be implemented in either the E-GSM (900 MHz-GSM) or DCS 1800 (1,800 MHz-GSM) frequency band which are both being used around the world.

In Europe

Europe includes the CEPT member states, which include all EU members and Albania, Andorra, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Moldavia, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and Vatican City.

GSM-R uses a specific frequency band, which can be referred to as the "standard" GSM-R band:[2]

In Germany this band was extended with additional channels in the 873–876 MHz and 918–921 MHz range.[3] Being used formerly for regional trunked radio systems the full usage of the new frequencies is aimed for 2015.[4]

In Sweden there is a conflict that frequencies have been given for 4G/LTE that are very close to GSM-R frequencies. It is impossible to totally avoid disturbing nearby frequencies. GSM-R is a safety system that should not be disturbed. The short term solution is to avoid use the 4G frequencies near railways, which gives less mobile data capacity for passengers. The long term solution is to change GSM-R frequencies in Sweden.

In China and South Africa

GSM-R occupies a 4 MHz wide range of the E-GSM band (900 MHz-GSM):[5][6]

In India

GSM-R occupies a 1.6 MHz wide range of the P-GSM band (900 MHz-GSM) held by Indian Railways:[7][8]

In Australia

GSM-R is being implemented using frequencies in the DCS 1800 band (1,800 MHz-GSM):[9]

The DCS 1800 band has been divided and auctioned in paired parcels each of 2 × 2.5 MHz with duplex spacing of 95 MHz. Railroads acquired six mostly non-grouped parcels which cover 2 × 15 MHz of this frequency band in which the GSM-R projects have been implemented.[10][11]

Meanwhile, Telecommunication operators, the Australian Telecommunications-Regulator ACMA, and rail-operators are in a discussion about whether to free up spectrum in the DCS-1800 band for public mobile services. As of 8 March 2011 the granted licenses for GSM-R in the DCS-1800 band are due to expire between 2013 and 2015.[12]

Technical frequency usage in GSM-R

The used modulation is GMSK modulation (Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying). GSM-R is a TDMA (“Time Division Multiple Access”) system. Data transmission is made of periodical TDMA frames (with a period of 4.615 ms), for each carrier frequency (physical channel). Each TDMA frame is divided in 8 time slots, named logical channels (577 µs long, each time-slot), 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.[13]

Current GSM-R version

The GSM-R standard specification is divided in two EIRENE specifications:[14]

EIRENE defines the “Technical Specification for Interoperability” (TSI) as the set of mandatory specifications to be fulfilled to keep compatibility with other European networks; current TSI are FRS 7 and SRS 15. EIRENE also defines non-mandatory specifications, that are called “Interim version”, which defines extra features that are likely to become mandatory in the next TSIs. Current Interim versions are FRS 7.1 and SRS 15.1.[15] The GSM-R specifications are fairly stable; the latest mandatory upgrade was in 2006. The complete timeline of GSM-R versions is:[16]

The current version of GSM-R can run on both R99 and R4 3GPP networks.

GSM-R uses

GSM-R permit new services and applications for mobile communications in several domains :

Main use

It is used to transmit data between trains and railway regulation centres with level 2 and 3 of ETCS. When the train passes over a Eurobalise, it transmits its new position and its speed, then it receives back agreement (or disagreement) to enter the next track and its new maximum speed. In addition, trackside signals become redundant.

Other uses

A GSM-R mobile phone used by the National Railway Company of Belgium

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:

There are other additional features:

GSM-R features

Portable GSM-R Cab Radio system
Compact GSM-R Cab Radio
Dual Mode Cab Radio (GSM-R and UIC 751-3) as 19“ rack
A graphical GSM-R cab radio interface – capable of displaying different languages
GSM-R user interface with colour display
GSM-R control panel for SBB

ASCI (Advanced Speech Call Items) features

The following definitions are a part of the System Requiremens Specification (SRS) as defined by the EIRENE standard.[17]

VGCS (Voice Group Call Service)

VGCS allows a great number of users to participate in the same call. This feature imitates the analogue PMR (Private Mobile Radio) group call with the PTT key (Push-to-Talk).
Three kinds of users are defined: the Talker, the Listener and the Dispatcher. The talker can become a listener by releasing the PTT key and a listener becomes a talker by pressing the PTT key.
One advantage of VGCS compared to multi-party calls (the GSM conference call feature) is the spectrum efficiency. Indeed, when many users are in the same cell they will use only one frequency for all listeners and two frequencies for the talker (as in point-to-point call). In a multi-party call, one timeslot is dedicated to each user. The second advantage compared to multi-party calls is that it is not necessary to know which mobiles are to take part in the call. A VGCS call is established on a purely geographic basis, subject to a mobile having previously enabled reception of the group concerned.

VBS (Voice Broadcast Service)

VBS is a broadcast group call: this means that compared to VGCS, only the initiator of the call can speak. The others who join the call can only be listeners. This kind of call is mainly used to broadcast recorded messages or to make announcements.

REC (Railway Emergency Call)

REC is a group call, or VGCS, dedicated to urgency. It is a higher priority call (REC priority is level 0 – see below : eMLPP).

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 which level is the highest possible priority 0. The SEC is enabled and used by devices registered for shunting operations. The establishment of such call leads to automatic acception of the call on all enabled devices within the current area or cell-group configured.[17]

Multi-Level Precedence and Pre-emption Service (eMLPP)

This defines the user's priority. The different priority levels are:
  • A and B: Highest priority levels (not used by GSM-R networks)
  • 0: Highest priority levels for ASCI and normal calls (mainly used for REC calls)
  • 1: Lower priority than level 0
  • 2: Lower priority than level 1
  • 3: Lower priority than level 2
  • 4: Lowest priority level (default priority, assigned to Point-to-Point calls)
An Auto-Answering feature with a timer is also available for calls with priority 0, 1 and 2.

GSM-R Numbering Plan

The EIRENE SRS document defines a fixed numbering plan for GSM-R. It is defined by number prefixes.

Prefix Usage definition
1 Reserved for short codes
2 Train Function Number
3 Engine Function Number
4 Coach Number
50 Group calls
51 Broadcast calls
52–55 Reserved for international use
56–57 Reserved for national use
58 Reserved for system use
59 Reserved for system use
6 Maintenance and shunting team members
7 Train controllers
8 Mobile Subscriber Number
9 Reserved for breakout codes and national use
0 Reserved for access to public or to other GSM-R networks

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.

Eirene features

Functional number management

  • Functional numbering
    • Allows to call an MS by its function: driver of the train xxx , ...
    • It uses:
      • USSD and Follow Me
      • UUS1 (for number display)
  • Location dependent addressing
    • Establishes a call from an MS to (usually) a fixed subscriber/dispatcher performing a function in the area where the MS is located.

End Call Confirmation

End Call Confirmation feature is only available for highest priority (Priority level 0) group calls (VGCS) and broadcast calls (VBS) (see eMLPP).
It consists of an end call report which sent by all MSs (mobile stations) which joined the high priority call (initiator included). This report informs about:
  • Call type
  • Call duration
  • MS Identity
  • End call cause Normal, ended by user, MS power off by user, power off due to low battery, …)
If the report cannot be sent (MS power off by user or power off due to low battery), the MS will try again (several times if needed) to send the report at the next power on.

Shunting mode

Shunting mode is the application that will regulate and control user access to shunting communications.
A Link Assurance Signal (LAS) is provided to give reassurance to the driver that the radio link is working.

Direct mode

Direct mode is the walkie-talkie mode (mobiles station talking to each other without the network) and has been proposed in Eirene, however it has never been in application since being based on analogue radio.
Sagemcom claims to have developed a GSM direct mode, not currently recognised in the GSM-R specification, and has no frequency allocation.

GSM-R market

GSM-R market groups

Different groups make up the GSM-R market:[18]

The network operators and the railway operators
Contract awarded / Currently implementing:
Country: Network operator: Railway operator(s): Equipment:
Algeria SNTF SNTF/ANESRIF Kapsch CarrierCom
Austria ÖBB-IKT GmbH ÖBB Kapsch CarrierCom/WINGcon GmbH
Australia Department of Transport Victoria Metro Trains Melbourne Nokia Siemens
Australia UGL Limited RailCorp Huawei
Belgium Infrabel NMBS/SNCB Nokia Siemens
Bulgaria NRIC NRIC Kapsch CarrierCom/WINGcon GmbH
China China Ministry of Railway China Ministry of Railway Huawei/ZTE
Czech Republic Správa železniční dopravní cesty ČD Kapsch CarrierCom
Denmark Banedanmark[19] DSB Nokia Siemens + WINGcon GmbH/Wenzel Elektronik
Finland Liikennevirasto VR Nokia Siemens
France SNCF Réseau SNCF Kapsch CarrierCom/WINGcon GmbH
France/Great Britain Eurotunnel Eurotunnel Kapsch CarrierCom/WINGcon GmbH
Germany DB Netz DBAG Kapsch CarrierCom/WINGcon GmbH
Great Britain Network Rail Limited List of passenger operators Siemens Mobility + Kapsch CarrierCom/WINGcon GmbH
Greece OSE S.A. TrainOSE Nokia Siemens
Hungary VPE MÁV Kapsch CarrierCom/WINGcon GmbH
India Nokia Siemens Networks IR Nokia Siemens/WINGcon GmbH + Kapsch CarrierCom
Republic of Ireland CIÉ Kapsch CarrierCom/WINGcon GmbH
Italy RFI TI Nokia Siemens + Kapsch CarrierCom
Lithuania Lithuanian Railways Lithuanian Railways Kapsch CarrierCom/WINGcon GmbH
Luxembourg CFL CFL Kapsch CarrierCom/WINGcon GmbH
Netherlands NS Railinfratrust NS
Norway Jernbaneverket NSB Nokia/WINGcon GmbH
Poland PKP PLK PKP Intercity & others Nokia Networks + Kapsch CarrierCom/WINGcon GmbH
Saudi Arabia Thales Group together with Nokia Siemens Networks Saudi Arabian Railways
Saudi Arabia AlShoula together with ADIF Saudi Arabian Organisation Kapsch CarrierCom/WINGcon GmbH
Spain ADIF RENFE Nokia Siemens + Kapsch CarrierCom
Sweden Trafikverket SJ, Hector Rail, Green Cargo Nokia Siemens + WINGcon GmbH/Wenzel Elektronik
Switzerland Siemens together with SBB Telecom SBB/CFF/FFS WINGcon GmbH
Turkey Turkish State Railways Kapsch CarrierCom
Turkmenistan Turkmen Railways Huawei
Planning phase / Contracting:
Country: Network operator: Railway operator(s):
Croatia (Pilot site)
Slovakia (Pilot site) ŽSR ZSSK
Slovenia AZP
Feasibility phase:
Country: Network operator: Railway operator(s):
China CR KNR
Republic of Ireland CIÉ
Northern Ireland NIR
Luxembourg CFL
Russia Russian Railways
United States US-DOT Amtrak
The network equipment vendors
The companies Nokia Networks, Huawei, ZTE and Kapsch (formerly Nortel) are the main suppliers of the GSM-R infrastructure.
Dispatch, control and recording centre solutions
Siemens Mobility, NEC Portugal, Frequentis, Wenzel Elektronik, WINGcon GmbH, Hörmann Funkwerk Kölleda GmbH and Trans Data Management AG.
The terminal manufacturers
Handset manufacturer
Sierra Wireless (formerly Sagemcom) is the main GSM-R handset supplier, followed by AJA Solutions Selex Communications, Triorail, and Huawei.
Cab radio manufacturer
Selex Communications, Kapsch CarrierCom, Siemens Mobility, Alstom, Center Systems and Hörmann Funkwerk Kölleda GmbH are the main suppliers. Hoermann Funkwerk Kolleda (formerly Kapsch) and Sierra Wireless mainly provide the GSM-R core of these cab radios.

Railways using GSM-R

Australia

Transport NSW is installing a Digital Train Radio System (DTRS) throughout the 1,455-kilometre electrified rail network, including 66 tunnels covering 70 kilometres, 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. It will cost $225 million. UGL Infrastructure Pty Ltd has been contracted to design, construct, commission and maintain the new network. It is anticipated the project will be completed in 2015. It has an expected design life of at least 15 years.[20]

Public Transport Victoria has installed a Digital Train Radio System (DTRS) on the Melbourne train network with GSM-R to replace the old system called Urban Train Radio System (UTRS). The equipment was installed at about 100 locations. It cost $152 million.[21]

France

TGV POS, linking Paris to Germany and Switzerland
ICE 3M at Gare de l'Est in Paris

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.

Italy

As of 2008, in Italy more than 9,000 km of railway lines are served by the GSM-R infrastructure: this number includes both ordinary and high speed lines, as well as more than 1,000 km 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.[23]

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.

UK Mainland

Siemens UK GSM-R Cab Radio fitted on Northern Rail Sprinter DMU

The implementation of over 14,000 km of GSM-R enabled railway, intended to replace both its legacy VHF 205 MHz National Radio Network (NRN) and UHF 450 MHz suburban Cab Secure Radio (CSR) systems is now complete as of January 2016.

As of Spring 2016, the only areas of UK Network Rail still currently employing VHF train radio communications are on sections of the Highland and Far North Lines in Scotland, where the RETB (Radio Electronic Token Block) system is utilised, using modified Ofcom frequencies around 180 MHz, having been de-scoped from the National GSM-R plan, due to practical difficulties involved in deploying the GSM-R system in this region.

Gallery

References

  1. "Siemens Wins Belgian GSM-R". Light Reading. 14 May 2003. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  2. "Technologies – GSM-R". Willtek. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  3. "Frequenznutzungsplan" [Frequency Use Plan] (PDF) (in German). April 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 November 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
  4. Meldung DB darf zusätzliche GSM-R-Frequenzen für Bahnfunk nutzen. In: DB Welt, Heft 12/2009, S. 15
  5. "GSM-R Frequencies China". TELEMATIK-SOLUTION Newsletter EDITION 2 (Januar 2011) (German). Atlantik Elektronik. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  6. "GSM-R Frequencies South Africa" (PDF). Representation to Draft Radio Frequency Spectrum Allocation. Railway Safety Regulator. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  7. "GSM-R Frequencies India" (PDF). CHAPTER XVIII MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS – GSM-R. Indian Railways. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  8. "GSM-R Frequencies India" (PDF). GSM-R as a Global Standard. International Union of Railways (UIC), UIC ERTMS Conference 2004, Rome. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  9. "APT Report on information of mobile operators’ frequencies, technologies and license durations in Asia pacific countries". Asia-Pacific Telecommunity. p. 9. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  10. "GSM-R Frequencies Australia". Comments of California High-Speed Rail Authority. California High-Speed Rail Authority. 14 June 2011. Archived from the original on 20 June 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  11. "GSM-R Frequencies Australia" (PDF). SUMMARY OF NSW RAIL CORPORATION’S (RAILCORP'S) SUBMISSION TO THE ACMA’S INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF GOVERNMENT SPECTRUM HOLDINGS (page 16). NSW Rail Corporation. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  12. Colley, Andrew (8 March 2011). "Albanese steps into dispute over radio spectrum". The Australian. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  13. "The GSM-R Frequency Workshop". UIC eNews (143) (UIC). 19 May 2009.
  14. "The way from the idea to GSM-R". UIC. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  15. "GSM-R Implementation Report". UIC. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  16. "GSM-R Technology". GSM-R Industry Group. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  17. 1 2 "EIRENE SRS Version 15.3.0" (PDF).
  18. "Implementation planning and progress". GSM-R. 23 May 2006. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  19. "GSM-R-radioer i brug på danske jernbaner". 18 Feb 2013.
  20. "Digital Train Radio System". Transport for NSW. 27 August 2013. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  21. "Digital Train Radio System". PTV Corporate. Government of Victoria. 2012. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  22. Réf. SNCF – Paris Agence France Presse (AFP), Sunday 10 June 2007, 07h13 (am).
  23. "GSM-R, per la telecomunicazione mobile" [GSM-R for mobile telecommunication] (in Italian). Rete Ferroviaria Italiana. Archived from the original on 18 December 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2008.

External links

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