“Don’t reinvent the wheel”: Lessons from Rail Baltica
INTERVIEWDesigning future-proof digital infrastructure for a greenfield railway project is no small feat. Andy Billington, Innovation and Digital Architecture Senior Expert at Rail Baltica, shares his perspective on the opportunities and challenges that come with...Read more
Future rail communication systems: between efficiency and cyber threats
New communication technologies will lead to significant improvements in terms of digital transformation and more efficient train control. At the same time, increasing digitalisation is exposing the rail sector to cyber threats as never before....Read more
FRMCS to replace GSM-R by 2030
BackgroundGSM-R has become obsolete and is no longer the future of rail data transmission. The Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) will have to replace it, taking into account the latest global data transmission standards.Read more
UIC: 5G delay has no effect on new rail communication system
EU Member States are significantly behind schedule in rolling out their 5G networks, putting the EU’s timeline for the 5G rollout at risk. However, the delay will not affect the deployment of the Future Railway...Read more
Dual Inventive connected to 5G Hub on High Tech Campus Eindhoven
As a new partner of the 5G Hub on the High Tech Campus Eindhoven, technology company Dual Inventive is focusing on a Dutch joining of forces in the field of IoT and sensor technology. The...Read more
FRMCS tests in Finland to start in 2022
In the Finnish Digirail project, the radio-based communication system FRMCS will be tested. A unique European trial will begin in Finland, where the new system can be adopted earlier than in most countries, because their...Read more
How a communications failure crippled the Dutch rail network
The majority of rail traffic in the Netherlands came to a standstill on Monday afternoon due to a malfunction in ProRail’s communication system. Communication between train drivers and train traffic control was blocked. Train traffic...Read more
ProRail signs with Nokia for GSM-R managed services
Nokia will provide operational and managed services for ProRail’s GSM-Railway (GSM-R) voice and data communications network in the Netherlands. The infrastructure manager has also concluded a contract with telecommunications provider Cellnex to set up eighty...Read more
Thales to install ETCS Level 2 in Finland
Thales has been selected to provide and install ETCS Level 2 signalling on the Kotka-Kouvola-Hamina line. It will be the first ETCS Level 2 track in Finland, which will prepare for the launch a nation-wide...Read more
RailTech Europe live blog day 2: ERTMS, ATO and sustainability
From the three stages of RailTech Europe Live, many topics relating to digitalisation such as ERTMS, Automatic Train Operation, and communication systems were discussed on day two. As icing on the cake, the winners of...Read more
EU Commission: deployment ERTMS is behind on schedule
The deployment of ERTMS is lagging behind schedule. In April 2020, the installation of the system reached just 78 percent of the target for 2019. Under the ERTMS European deployment plan, the EU signalling system...Read more
Rail Baltica about the advantages of a green field situation
The construction of brand new rail infrastructure like Rail Baltica has some advantages over the updating or extension of existing networks. Especially on a digital level, says Andy Billington, Innovation and Sustainability Expert at Rail...Read more
Rail Baltica joins 5GRAIL project
Rail Baltica, a greenfield rail transport infrastructure project, will take a role in the 5GRAIL Advisory Panel. 5GRAIL will be testing and validating the Future Railways Mobile Communications System (FRMCS) for trackside infrastructure and on-board...Read more