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GSM-R

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GSM-R (GSM-Railway) is a wireless communications platform developed specifically for railway communication and applications.

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 analog radio networks for railways. Over 35 different such systems are reported to exist only in Europe.

GSM-R is a secure platform for voice and data communication between the operational staff of the railway companies 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.

The standard is the result of over ten years of collaboration between the various European railway companies, achieving interoperability using a single communication platform. GSM-R is part of the new European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) 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 EU-funded MORANE (Mobile Radio for Railways Networks in Europe) project. The specification is being maintained by the UIC (International Union of Railways) project ERTMS.

GSM-R has been selected by 38 countries across the world, including all member states of European Union, and countries in Asia, Eurasia and northern Africa.

GSM-R are typically implemented using dedicated base station towers close to the railway. The distance between the base stations are 3-4 km. This creates a high degree of redundancy and higher availability and reliability. The train maintains a circuit switched modem connection to the train control center at all times. This is moded operates with higher priority than normal users (eMLPP). If the modem connection is lost, the train will automatically stop. In Germany, Italy and France the GSM-R network has between 3000 and 4000 base stations.

GSM-R Market

The GSM-R market is made by different groups:

The railway operators
DB, SBB, SNCF, Train Italia etc.
The network operators
The companies Nortel and Siemens are the main suppliers of the GSM-R infrastructure.
The terminal manufacturers
Handset manufacturer
The company Sagem (SAFRAN group) is the leader of the GSM-R handset. There are smaller actors as Selex, Triorail and Huawei.
Cab radio manufacturer
Alstom, Siemens, Nortel and Hoermann are the main suppliers. The GSM-R core of those cab radio is mainly provided by Kapsch and Sagem.

GSM-R Technology

In Europe GSM-R systems have a dedicated frequency band 876-880 MHz (Up Link) and 921-925 MHz (Down link). In China 4 MHz of the E-GSM is used.

The main features of the GSM-R standard are the following:

  • ASCI (Advanced Speech Call Items) features
the VGCS (Voice Group Call Service)
the VBS (Voice Broadcast Service)
  • Multi-Level Precedence and Pre-emption Service (eMLPP). This gives priority to some users above others.
  • Emergency Call
  • Functional number management
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