andrea parker, network rail consulting - uk rail telecommunications developments

UK Rail Telecommunications DevelopmentsAndrea Parker BEng MBA CEng FIET FIRSEHead of Signalling and Control Systems (Australasia) , Network Rail Consulting Pty Ltd

Harvinder Bhatia BEng MBA CEng MIET MIRSEPrincipal Engineer [Communications], Network Rail, UK

© Network Rail Consulting

ContentsFixed Telecoms Network 3

Radio Communications 10

Current Developments 19


The contents of this presentation remains the intellectual property of Network Rail Consulting and may be used only in connection with the brief for which it

was submitted. It is specifically forbidden to communicate the contents to any third party without prior permission in writing from Network Rail Consulting, and

all reasonable precautions must be taken to avoid this occurring.

2

Fixed Telecoms Network


Fixed Telecoms Network (FTN)What does it carry?

GSM-R

Signalling bearer circuits

Electrification controls

Operational and business telephones

Legacy radio systems

IT wide area network

4


Fixed Telecoms Network

SDH transmission node

Cabinet for copper cross-connection or HDSLequipment

Fibre cable

Multipair copper cable

Signal post telephone

Lineside signalling equipment

Copper tail cable

GSM-R Base Station

Key

NTP

NTP

NTP

NTP

NTP Network terminating point

Signaller's Telephone

LDT

Signalling Interlocking

GSM-R Base Station

NTP

GSM-R Base Station

NTP

GSM-R Base Station

LDT

Signalling long distance terminal

RTIS Wide AreaNetwork

Office Telephones

NTP NTP

Telecoms Engineering ControlNTP NTP

NTPCore Network

NTPNTP

NTP

GSM-R Mobile Switching Centre (MSC)

Telephone Concentrator

NTP

NTP

NTP

LDT

LDT

NTP

5


Telecoms Engineering Control

6


FTN Equipment

REB and tower

Main Distribution Frame

Inside REB (battery rack)

Inside FTN Core Node

7


FTNx Core Solution Overview

8


FTNx Core network resilience to link failures

EdinburghGlasgow

Birmingham

Bristol

Manchester Doncaster

Kings Cross

Victoria

9

Radio Communications


Radio CommunicationSafety Purpose

Advise signaller of dangerous conditions

Warn driver of emergency situation

Emergency connection to ECR

Safety Requirements

Secure communications

Emergency over-ride of lower priority calls

Emergency broadcast when required

Technical Solutions (past and present)

NRN* (National Radio Network)

CSR* (Cab Secure Radio)

RETB* (Radio Electronic Token Block)

GSM-R (GSM for Railways)

*Legacy radio systems being phased out

11


Why renew radio systems, and why GSM-R?

Safety recommendations – direct signaller to driver communications

Obsolescence and condition of analogue radio systems – NRN 30 years old, CSR at least 20

Interference (especially digital TV) to NRN/RETB

Why GSM-R?

European interoperability legislation mandating GSM-R on TEN-T routes made it a legal requirement

12


What is GSM-R?

• Based on Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) 900 MHz standard

• Addition of special facilities required for railway operations

• Interoperable across European railways

• Provides secure communication between driver & signaller

13


What is GSM-R?

GSM-R Rail Specific Features

Railway emergency calls: fast set-up time

Functional addressing (call without knowing number)

Location dependent addressing (connected to appropriate location)

Group and broadcast calls

Priority and pre-emption

14


Network Rail’s GSM-R NetworkWhat is involved…

2 Switching centres2,500 trackside base stations500 standalone transmission access nodesNew train radio in 9,000 driving cabsNew radio terminal for every signaller’s positionNew operating rules£1Bn+ investment in infrastructure (incl. FTN)Scheduled completion 2014

Network CoverageComplete coverage of the rail network including tunnels and depotsFor high speed (TEN-T) routes, GSM-R signal strength suitable to support ETCS Level 2 working

-83 dBm (Voice)

-80 dBm

-77 dBm (ETCS L2)

15


Train Radio HMI and Signaller Terminal

16


GSM-R Network

17


Typical GSM-R Radio Site

18

Current Developments


GSM-R developmentEU member states have invested heavily in GSM-R networks to support voice and ETCS but

GSM-R has a finite capacity due to limited spectrumImplementation of ETCS increases data demand on GSM-RUse of existing circuit switching for ETCS data is very inefficient

The solution:GPRS is a packet switching bearer that overlays on GSM-R which allows multiple users to share a timeslotGPRS is not new but ETCS over GPRS is

20


ETCS National Integration Facility (before)

Stapleford Broadwater

Operational GSM-R BTS

REB

Operational GSM-R BTS

REB

FTN

Stapleford Operational GSM-R Cell (voice)

Broadwater Operational GSM-R Cell (voice)

21½ m 26¼ m

Hertford Test Area

Test Track (Bi-Directional)

Normal Service Track (Bi-Directional)

Operational GSM-R Network

21


ENIF GSM-R Coverage with GPRS

Stapleford Broadwater

GPRS enabled GSM-R BTS

REB REB

FTN

Stapleford Operational GSM-R Cell (voice)

Broadwater Operational GSM-R Cell (voice)

21½ m 26¼ m

Hertford Test Area

Test Track (Bi-Directional)

Normal Service Track (Bi-Directional)Reference GSM-R Network

Broomhall Repeater

Reference Cell 1 Reference Cell 4Reference Cell 3Reference Cell 2

GPRS enabled GSM-R BTS

(Ref GSM-R Net’)

22


ETCS over GPRS (EoG) Project

Objective of EU led Project is to draft new GPRS/ERTMS specifications and test prototype products against the specificationsHigh level specifications have been drafted with ETCS data traffic model

Testing has occurred in France, UK and Denmark

Specifications to be finalised by Dec 2014 (recommendations)

Specifications to be approved as part of ERTMS second maintenance release in 2015

Signalling compatible GPRS products (e.g. EVC and RBC) expected to be commercially available around 2016

23


Current ChallengesDegraded mode management when GPRS is not fully available

Start of Mission

Terminal stations setup

Optional or mandatory GPRS requirements within CCS TSI?

Commercial availability of signalling & telecom products

UK plan for ETCS deployment will implement GPRS when needed and when ready

24


The FutureEuropean Rail Agency principles for evolution of railway communications:

Transition strategy to move over time to IP based technologies

Split the application and communication layers for voice and data

Involve telecom operators

Use off the shelf technology

Have common operational requirements and interoperability

Maintain a high level of safety

Evolution to be compatible with GSM-R

25


Summary

FTNx will be the bearer for the future to support signalling and other railway applications

Radio communication forms the backbone of modern signalling systems

GSM-R is the chosen European system

GPRS is the next step

26

Thank you

[email protected]

[email protected]

Network Rail Consulting Pty Ltd

Level 20 Tower 2 Darling Park

201 Sussex Street

Sydney NSW 2000

www.networkrailconsulting.com

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