GSM-R

Global System for Mobile Communications - Rail ( way) ( GSM -R and GSM - Rail) is a mobile system that is based on the globally dominant GSM wireless standard, but has been adapted for use on the railways.

• 3.1 Use of Deutsche Bahn
• 3.2 Use at the Swiss Federal Railways
• 3.3 use in the RFF

Development

In the course of integrating Europe a unified, standardized and interoperable pan-European solution was also needed in the area of ​​train radio. In the EC Directive 96/48 of 23 July 1996, therefore, the interoperability of the trans-European high -speed traffic from May 1999 is made to the statutory duty.

In 1997, therefore, 32 European railway companies liable for GSM - R. Thus, the interoperability of mobile communication in railway operation is guaranteed throughout Europe. The functional requirement specification was end of June 1998 approved by the Directors General of the railway companies in UIC.

Another reason for the introduction of new wireless standards was that the hitherto -powered analog radio systems outdated and are therefore no longer economical to operate. Alone the German railway operates since the sixties eight different analog wireless systems: wireless train, shunting, car radio, operating and maintenance radio and more.

Later decided non-European railway administrations, GSM -R introduce.

Technology

GSM -R is a building on the GSM mobile phone standard, the ( UIC Union Internationale des Chemins de fer ) is maintained and further developed since 1992 by the International Union of Railways. This happened first in the context of EIRENE ( European Integrated Railway Radio Enhanced Network ) project, since the end of 2006 as part of the ERTMS project. In this way, the GSM, outgoing GSM-R specific specifications are developed which then as FRS (Functional Requirements Specifications ) and SRS (System Requirement Specification ) to be published. In addition to GSM -R, the ERTMS project group of the UIC is also responsible for ETCS.

In addition to voice communication to GSM -R serve as a transport medium for ETCS data that would allow the next command also Zugfernsteuerung, interlocking communication and monitoring of the movement of trains.

To use all the applications of the GSM - R network for the dispatchers and dispatchers, special Fixed come terminal system (FTS ) are used.

GSM -R has two operating modes which differ in such essential parameters.

Operating in the GSM mode

For operation in the GSM mode are specified for networks based on the GSM standard operating parameters for the application. A GSM -R network in GSM mode is largely a public GSM network, but additional services are required by the UIC, and some parameters from standard GSM were specified more closely. The differences are as follows:

• The support function numbers for voice and data calls is required
• Function numbers must be resolved by the network and displayed on the terminals in text form
• The call termination depends on the location of the caller must be possible. In this way, always the responsible Dispatcher approximately, depending on the residence, with the same number are reached
• The implementation of a web-specific emergency is required
• The implementation of the Advanced Speech Call Items is required
• The implementation of the GSM service VBS (Voice Broadcast Service ) is required. This is a collective call for one-way communication, ie the caller can speak, all the called party can only listen (announcement service).
• The implementation of the GSM service VGCS Voice Group Call Service is required. This is a collective call which is simultaneously delivered to all user groups and in which all participants can talk
• The support function numbers for VBS and VGCS is required. This addressing capabilities need to be supported, such as all trains or entire train crew
• Voice connections for a special maneuvering mode must be implemented. This includes the connection of a link assurance signal, a connection control signal indicative of all participants regularly the existence of a connection in the form of a control tone
• The implementation of eMLPP is required. Each call must be assigned a priority level, the network must support the displacement of low priority calls by higher-priority calls, ignored calls to be terminated. The following priority levels are assigned in GSM -R: railway-specific emergency calls (railway emergency )
• Safety-related transfers (control -command (safety ) )
• Public emergency calls ( about the 112 ) and group calls between train drivers (public emergency and group calls in between drivers in the same area )
• Operationally relevant transfers and shunting (railway operation)
• Other calls (railway information)

The GSM mode of GSM-R has been specified for the entire R -GSM frequency range. The actual allocation of the frequency ranges is carried out by the regulatory authorities of the individual states. Roaming between GSM -R and public GSM networks is possible.

Function numbers

The implementation of function numbers means that the network is available in addition to the individual, bound to the SIM card phone numbers, additional call numbers for specific terminals and officials.

In this way can function support in a train (about the driver or no driver or DB long-distance trains train manager ), the crew of a locomotive, a shunting or maintenance group, a certain dispatcher or about the Zugdatenrecorder be achieved without the respective individual phone number need to know. It is also possible for officials to address groups, for example, the entire crew of a train or any train driver who traveled a certain distance.

Examples derived from the numbering plan proposed by UIC:

The number 1200 is reached before the competent local dispatcher

With the number 21768701 you reach the train driver in a train

• 2 as an identifier for a call to a function call in a train
• 17687 is the train number

• This number is assigned dynamically, the train must register it

With the number 412345678901 you reach the train driver in a train

• 4 as an identification for a call to a function call in a locomotive
• 123456789 is the train number (see vehicle list the DB)
• 01 is the first engineer of this train (Leading Driver)
• This number is assigned statically and permanently assigned to each train

Railway Specific emergency

When web-specific emergency is a call by the VGCS, is delivered depends on the location of the caller and the called emergency number to specified user groups, specifically signaled and connected automatically. Each GSM-R terminal must have a special red button for this type of emergency call. About to call the emergency number does not decide the user, but the use of the device. For example configures a GSM-R terminal that is signed up for a Rangiermitarbeiter in the network, automatically the correct emergency number.

For the addressable emergency groups, the following emergency numbers are defined:

• 299 for emergency tensioning assemblies and drivers
• 539 for emergency station and security staff
• 569 emergency call for technicians and maintenance personnel ( Trackside maintenance groups)
• 579 Dispatchers Emergency
• 599 Rangiergruppennotruf

Operating in Direct Mode

For pure short-range communication or operation cases where there is no GSM -R network in the GSM mode is available, the Direct mode is specified. In this operating mode, devices can communicate directly with each other without additional infrastructure. The operating parameters are used in this case:

• Frequency range 873.0 MHz to 880.0 MHz, channel spacing of 12.5 kHz
• Frequency modulation, Transmission power max. 1 W
• Half-duplex operation
• Minimum receiver sensitivity -107 dBm
• Minimum range 2000 m
• The existing in GSM mode has to be implemented including the shunting connection control signal
• Portable devices must have a minimum duration of 8 hours, based on an allocation of 20 % transmission mode, 20 % receive mode and 60 % standby

Use

In collaboration with Nortel Kapsch has built a GSM -R network in the Slovak Republic for the web ( ZSR ) and put into operation in early September 2006. Is also expanding in Slovenia together with Kapsch Iskratel 2015 a GSM -R on a range of 1200 kilometers. Another supplier Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN ). NSN GSM - R networks, for example in Sweden (first GSM -R network worldwide), Holland and Italy in operation.

Use at Deutsche Bahn

Decided in 1998, the German railway, completely switch introduced in the 1970s analogue train on GSM -R.

In January 1998, GSM - R radio tests were carried out on the route between Stuttgart and Bruchsal. In 2001, the system was put on a 15 -km-long test section Bitterfeld- Graefenhainichen the Berlin- Halle in full operation.

In Germany, the Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Post Reserved (now Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railways) of the frequency ranges from 876.0 to 879.8 MHz and 921.0 to 924.8 MHz ( these are the channels 955-974 ) of GSM-R in the GSM mode. Thus, a total of 20 channels with a bandwidth of 200 kHz for the communication. The end of 2009 gave the Agency grants a request by Deutsche Bahn in 2005, after which the company is allowed to use a seven instead of the previous four megahertz wide band (E -GSM- R) in the future. The company expects to be able to use the additional frequencies from 2015. However, the additional allocated frequency range of 873.0 to 876.0 MHz and 918.0 to 921.0 MHz at the moment (December 2009 ) can not be used for applications according to the GSM standard, since this frequency range is not provided in the GSM specifications is, so it is only PMR applications or use the Direct mode possible. The German railway also criticizes that other and trunked radio applications are allowed on this spectrum.

The German railway introduced on 1 October 1999 its plans to build a GSM-R network. Until the end of 2002 while 27,000 kilometers distance should be covered with 2800 base stations. In spring 2001, the company to supply 25,000 km with GSM -R within three years of planning. It should be 1.5 billion euros will be invested in the track infrastructure and 250 million euros in the Zugterminals. In spring 2004, the company announced plans to take in 2005, GSM -R to more than 24,000 km of lines in operation. In a first step, some 2,300 km in the DB network - Southwest Division should be switched on the night of January 2, 2005.

Was controversial to what extent private railway transport companies may be forced to switch to GSM -R. Critics complained that the new system the company bring few benefits, however, would impose high costs. The end of 2003, a compromise between the transportation companies and DB was is negotiated network. In October 2004, the Berlin Regional Court rejected the claim of a railway company to a preliminary injunction against the introduction of GSM -R by DB Netz.

The German railway will equip around 29,000 km of its 34,000 km network used for operations with GSM-R/EIRENE. The analogue train radio is currently replaced gradually by GSM -R. The high-speed line Cologne-Rhine/Main went on 1 August 2002 as the first based only on GSM -R track in operation.

To March 2007, GSM -R was along more than 20,000 kilometers of track in operation. In total, to approximately 2,900 base stations ( BTS), 63 base station controllers (BSC ), seven switching centers ( MSC ) and 4 Operation & Maintenance Center (OMC ), one of them as a Network Management Center (NMC ) constructed. A total of about 10,000 vehicles for GSM -R were fitted and 3000 participants connected in the fixed network. Since 2006, GSM -R is in this case also tentatively used to transmit EBuLa timetable data. In the 2nd quarter of 2007 is at the yard Seelze the trial operation for shunting on digital GSM-R base calling (September 2006).

In September 2007, GSM -R was active and approved for use in wireless train along some 24,000 miles distance, to around 23,000 kilometers of train radio to GSM-R was changed. From about 5000 km distance, which should be equipped with GSM -R, were about 1000 km in the building. The use of GSM -R in shunting was provided on marshalling yards in 1400, which until then no planning was possible in approximately 30 areas of frequency deficiency. By December 2009, digital shunting was taken in 1050 from 1,350 in shunting operation. In April 2010, more than 25,000 km of route network to GSM-R Train Radio had been converted.

In preparation for the introduction of ETCS an increased level of at least -95 dBm radio (according EIRENE SRS) was implemented along of new and upgraded lines to the extent of 3444 km. At around 3000 km a required for ETCS, elevated BTS availability was implemented.

By mid- 2007, some 9800 vehicles of Deutsche Bahn for GSM -R had been converted.

Owners and operators of the German GSM-R network is the DB Netz AG.

General contractor and manufacturer of the mobile network of the Deutsche Bahn was the Canadian company Nortel, in February 2008 base stations from Nokia Siemens Networks to be established. The dual-mode GSM - R terminals, which still support only the GSM - R standard also the analogue train, were supplied by Hörmann Funkwerk Kölleda GmbH Nortel Networks to the German railway.

The number of MSC Server is to be reduced to 2014 from seven to two.

Use at the Swiss Federal Railways

In early 1999 issued the Swiss Federal Railways ( SBB) a contract to build and operate a GSM - R network. The SBB gave it the power of a 36 km-long pilot route, between Zofingen and Sempach, in order. The first test drives were planned for the second half of 1999.

A total of 2360 of 3100 route kilometers in the network of the SBB are at the moment (as of December 2006) equipped for 431 million Swiss francs with GSM -R. A complete equipment at a planned price of 357 million Swiss francs was discarded after cost increases. Until the end of 2011, all main lines with GSM -R are to be equipped. The network is supplied and operated by Nokia Siemens Networks. The single-mode train radio (GSM -R ) were added at Hörmann Funkwerk Kölleda GmbH in order - the main delivery has now been completed (as of 08 /2009).

Since 2006, new applications can be operated by using an integrated application platform GEMS at SBB. Through GEMS is combined services by reference information from various third-party systems can be realized in a very short time by the customer. Examples: Attendant functional registrations to foreign GSM -R systems, SMS on trains, call routing based on accurate track position of the train, also various USSD services. Even a cellular-based Abfahrabfertigung is realized by GEMS. GEMS is Nokia Siemens Networks and Atos ( Formerly Siemens IT Solutions and Services ) delivered and operated and can be used when required in other countries.

Use in the RFF

The French network operator Réseau Ferré de France awarded in spring 2010, a contract for the GSM - R equipment to the consortium Synerail. By 2015, shall be equipped with in the global more than one billion euros PPP project around 14,000 kilometers of lines with GSM -R. Included is the operation over 15 years.

Pictures

Compact GSM -R train radio

Dual-mode train radio in 19 " Technology

Emergency button of a GSM -R capable Zugfunkgerätes (keypad )

A GSM-R station of the DB.

The S8002, an outdoor station for GSM -R Nortel

The BS 241 -II, an outdoor station for GSM -R from Nokia Siemens Networks

Redundant Antennas for tunnel supply of GSM -R