Railway Communications System

What is it?

Network Rail is implementing a new £1.7bn railway communications system which will provide significant performance and safety benefits to the railway.

Using Global System for Mobile communications – Railways (GSM-R) technology, it will, for the first time, provide a single, national system of secure train driver-to-signaller communication.

GSM-R will require the construction of approximately 2000 radio masts and base stations across the entire rail network.

At the same time the Fixed Telecomms Network, used for all operational railway communications, is receiving a complete overhaul. This involves the laying of thousands of miles of fibre optic and copper cable in routes along the railway.

Why is it needed?

The current analogue radio systems were introduced many years ago and now need to be replaced and updated. They do not provide full network coverage and will become increasingly difficult to maintain.

Implementing this safety communications system is also a key recommendation of reports into several rail accidents, including the Cullen Report into the Ladbroke Grove rail accident, which specified that there should be one unified system of signaller to train driver communication. It will also ensure compliance with EU Directive 96/48, which mandates the implementation of GSM-R across Europe to ensure that trains can safely cross borders.

The Railway Communications System will enable:

  • contact between train drivers, signallers and control centres to be quickly established in emergencies
  • simultaneous broadcast calls so that all drivers in a certain area can be contacted immediately to be warned of an incident or obstacle
  • signallers to have more accurate information on the whereabouts of trains
  • significant train performance benefits. The number of incidents relating to signalling faults will be reduced. Passengers will receive more timely and accurate information on train movements and performance issues will be resolved more quickly.
When will it happen?
  • A pilot route is currently being developed in Glasgow and will be trialled in 2007
  • The national rollout programme will prioritise core mainline routes and masts will be erected until 2011
  • The project is expected to be operational by 2013