Vehicle/Train Control and Communications
System Interface Committee
(V/TC&C SIC)
FC&PS Advisory Group
Future Communications and Positioning Systems Advisory Group (FC&PS AG)
Remit
Issue No. 5
22 July 2014
1
Introduction
1.1
This remit defines the working arrangements for the FC&PS AG, a sub-group of the
Vehicle/Train Control and Communications System Interface Committee (SIC) in
accordance with the SIC Protocol.
1.2
The V/TC&C SIC provides the focus for train control and communication issues. Appendix
A outlines the V/TC&C SIC governance structures.
2
Purpose and Scope of the FC&PS AG
2.1
Summary
2.1.1 The Rail Technical Strategy 2012 (RTS) chapter on Control, Command and
Communications describes a vision of network capacity dynamically optimised by intelligent
traffic management and control systems. Communications and train positioning are
identified as key enablers to achieving this vision.
2.1.2 The purpose of FC&PS AG is to provide advice and direction to the industry on appropriate
communication and positioning technologies as enablers to the RTS vision.
2.2
Scope
2.2.1 The scope of the FC&PS AG activities include technologies that support the following
applications:

Personal Journey Assistant

Yield Management

Railway System Condition Monitoring


Monitoring System for Safety Security
and Health
Station Design and Crowd
Management

Measurement and Management of
Service Quality

Capacity Driven by Market Demand
in Real Time

Traffic Management

ATO and Driverless Trains

Ubiquitous Data Networks
Multi-Purpose Core Routes


Elimination of Risk at Level Crossings


Disruption Management
Megacity Suburban Metro by
Segregation

Rolling Stock Interior Design
(specifically in vehicle entertainment
systems and mobile communications
for passengers)

Regional Metro (e.g. Tram-Train)

End to end journey experience –
Smart ticketing

Selective Door Operation (SDO)

Narrowband data transfer

Integrated Transport Ticketing

Intelligent Monitoring
Secretary Katie Healy Telephone 020 3142 5539 E-mail katie.healy@rssb.co.uk
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Vehicle/Train Control and Communications
System Interface Committee
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FC&PS Advisory Group
technologies (for example GSM-R)
3
Objectives of the SIC / sub-group
3.1
The Rail Technical Strategy
3.1.1 The SIC Protocol requires that SICs support the development and implementation of the
Rail Technical Strategy (RTS) by working with Future Railway to define and take forward
research and innovation projects in pursuit of the RTS vision.
3.1.2 With this in mind the role of the SIC, in agreement with TSLG, includes championing
portfolios of the Rail Technical Strategy (RTS). The Protocol states the following:
‘3.2
The approach adopted by SICs shall be:
a) Strategic – resulting from the Rail Technical Strategy, and its further
development as the Rail Technical Strategy 2012, and any consequent direction
from TSLG through formal remits to SIC Chairs, and
b) Tactical – dealing with more immediate issues, but aligning where necessary
with the trajectory of the Rail Technical Strategy and its successor, the Rail
Technical Strategy 2012.’
3.1.3 VTC&C SIC is the control command and communication industry portfolio champion.
FC&PS AG will provide support to the V/TC&C SIC, principally in the provision of enablers
to the RTS vision.
3.1.4 FC&PS AG will strive to inform, advise and influence the railway industry about
technologies and opportunities that can offer benefit within the applications listed in 2.2.1
above. Appendix B outlines FC&PS AG’s framework of activities.
3.2
Work plan
3.2.1 FC&PS AG will document its activities in a work plan.
3.2.2 In addition, FC&PS AG will develop a communications plan to support the dissemination of
information to the railway industry (including the outcome of research, the benefits of
research to the industry and implementation of research by the industry) in cooperation with
the V/TC&C SIC.
3.3
Conditions under which the sub-group will cease activity
3.3.1 The sub-group will cease activity:
4

If requested by the V/TC&C SIC

Where the group members deem that there are insufficient interface issues that meet
the scope
Membership of FC&PS AG
4.1.1 The membership of FC&PS AG shall be appropriate to its scope. The role of each member
is to represent the views of the constituency to which they belong.
4.1.2 The core membership of FC&PS AG will comprise representation from:

1 x Railway undertakings (passenger train operators)
Katie Healy Telephone 020 3142 5539 E-mail katie.healy@rssb.co.uk
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Vehicle/Train Control and Communications
System Interface Committee
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FC&PS Advisory Group

1 x Railway undertakings (non-passenger train operators; excluding any party which
operates non-passenger trains wholly or mainly in connection with its role as an
infrastructure contractor)

1 x Network Rail - Technical Development

1 x Network Rail – Telecoms

1 x RIA

1 x Rolling stock owners (including rolling stock leasing companies)

1 x Suppliers (including rolling stock manufacturers)

1 x Department for Transport (DfT) (observer)

1 x Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) (observer)

1 x RSSB

1 x Rail Research UK (Guest/Optional)

1 x Future/Railway (Guest/Optional)
4.1.3 If necessary the Chair shall be supported in their role by a Vice-Chair who demonstrates
comprehensice knowledge in the technology domain area of the FC&PS AG. (See
Appendix D for the full role description)
4.1.4 The role of Chair, and Vice-Chair if appointed, is not to represent thye constituency to which
they belong, but it is to encourage fair representation of views through other members and
seek whole-industry solutions through consensus.
4.1.5 The membership and alternate list is managed by RSSB and will be available for review at
meetings. Members may nominate an alternate to carry out committee duties when they
are unavailable and will provide contact details of the alternate to the committee secretary.
4.1.6 If members are unable to attend they will inform the secretary at the earliest opportunity and
confirm the attendance of their alternate.
4.1.7 The Chair may invite guests and participants to attend as required to inform the work and
decisions of the FC&PS AG or for specific projects.
5
Specialist Skills and Knowledge
5.1
Knowledge
5.1.1 The committee members shall collectively provide expertise and strategic knowledge of:

Communications and positioning systems

Understanding of current use (data and voice) and performance

Wide understanding of data applications and operational issues

Knowledge of train and infrastructure-based sub-systems

Standards and legislation
Katie Healy Telephone 020 3142 5539 E-mail katie.healy@rssb.co.uk
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Vehicle/Train Control and Communications
System Interface Committee
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FC&PS Advisory Group
5.1.2
FC&PS AG will invite representatives with specialist knowledge to attend meetings as and
when required.
5.2
Disclosure of Interests
5.2.1 Disclosure of interests applies to both SICs and sub-groups. The SIC Protocol states:
‘If a member, or a person for whom that member works, has a direct or indirect personal
interest in a matter to be discussed by the committee, as distinct from a common interest of
the industry category as a whole, the member shall declare that interest to the Chairman of
the committee of which they are a member at the earliest opportunity:
a) On the first occasion at which the matter is discussed, or
b) If a member is not aware of an interest at that time, at the next committee meeting after
which they become aware of that interest, regardless of whether the matter is being
discussed at that meeting.
Once disclosed, an interest need not be disclosed again.
When a member declares an interest, the other members shall decide whether that
member may continue to participate in discussions on the matter concerned or whether that
member shall be excluded from the meeting while the matter is discussed.’
6
Delegation of Authority
6.1
Decision making
6.1.1 The FC&PS AG SIC shall operate on a consensus basis in accordance with the SIC
Protocol which states:
‘Consensus means a general agreement characterised by the absence of sustained
opposition to substantial issues by any member of the committee concerned. The process
of consensus involves taking into account the views of all members of the committee
concerned and to reconcile conflicting arguments.’
6.1.2 All recommendations and decisions are subject to endorsement from the V/TC&C SIC.
6.2
Meeting quorum
6.2.1 The FC&PS AG quorum shall consist of:
7

1 x Chair

1 x Rolling stock owner

1 x Passenger train operator

1 x Network Rail

1 x RSSB
Process to nominate and appoint a new Chairman or new members
7.1.1 The process to nominate and appoint a new Chairman or new members is set out in the
SIC Protocol.
Katie Healy Telephone 020 3142 5539 E-mail katie.healy@rssb.co.uk
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Vehicle/Train Control and Communications
System Interface Committee
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FC&PS Advisory Group
7.1.2 The appointment of a Vice-Chair shall be in accordance with a process agreed by FC&PS
AG members, in-line with the SIC Protocol and endorsed by the V/TC&C SIC. The ViceChair role shall be subject to review after two years.
8
Governance
8.1
Reporting / Recommendations
8.1.1 The FC&PS AG shall provide reports to the V/TC&C SIC as and when required by the
committee.
9
Support provided by RSSB
9.1
Support provided by RSSB shall be in accordance with the SIC Protocol.
10
Organisation and Operation of Meetings
10.1
The FC&PS AG meeting will operate to a pre-agreed agenda, with a minimum of four
meetings per calendar year, though this can remain under review.
10.2
A draft agenda will be sent to the Chair for approval 10 days in advance of the meeting. If
there are insufficient agenda items to be discussed at any single meeting, the Chair will
cancel the meeting with five working days notice.
11
Administration
11.1
Minutes
11.1.1 Draft minutes will be reviewed by the RSSB technical specialist and then by the Chair
before distribution to the group.
11.1.2 Care must be taken to ensure the approved published minutes and any associated papers
do not contain commercially sensitive information.
11.1.3 Where requests are made to distribute approved published minutes and any associated
papers beyond the intended audience (for example RIA distribution to their members) the
relevant Chairman is to be made aware and their authorisation is to be sought, to ensure
the papers do not contain information they would not wish to share beyond the group.
Requests will be made via the Senior Stakeholder Support Manager, RSSB.
11.1.4 The draft minutes will be made available to the group via the extranet.
11.1.5 The approved minutes of each meeting will be made available to the group via the extranet.
11.2
Meeting Documentation
11.2.1 The meeting documentation will be provided to the group no later than five working days
prior to the meeting.
11.2.2 The meeting documentation will be made available to the group via the extranet.
11.3
Remit Review
11.3.1 This remit shall be reviewed by the FC&PS AG at least once every 12 months.
Katie Healy Telephone 020 3142 5539 E-mail katie.healy@rssb.co.uk
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Vehicle/Train Control and Communications
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FC&PS Advisory Group
Appendix A V/TCC Governance Structure
Vehicle Train Control & Communications
System Interface Committee (V/TC&C SIC)
Chair: Clive Burrows
Train Control Technical
Sub Group (TCTSG)
Chair: Nick Wright
Train Protection
Strategy Group (TP
SG)
Chair: Phil Barrett
Future Communication
& Positioning Systems
Advisory Group
(FC&PS AG)
Chair: Ian Maxwell
Track Circuit Assisters Steering Group (TCA SG)
Chair: Nick Wright
Chiltern Automatic Train Protections User Management Group
(Chiltern ATP UMG)
Chair: Graham Wire
Defect Recording &
Corrective Action
Steering Group
(DRACAS SG)
Chair: Simon Tonks
Electro Magnetic
Compatibility Subgroup
(EMC SG)
Chair: Maya Peckova
Future Traffic
Regulation
Optimisation
Programme Control
Board
(FuTRO PCB)
Chair: Clive Burrows
Driver Advisory
Systems Board
DAS Board
Chair: Simon Whitehorn
Great Western Automatic Train Protection User Management
Group (GW ATP UMG)
Chair: Martin Evans
Secretary Katie Healy Telephone 020 3142 5539 E-mail katie.healy@rssb.co.uk
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Vehicle
Communications
Advisory Group
(VCAG)
Chair: Nick Wright
Radio Electronic Token
Block Working Group
(RETB WG)
Chair: Stephen Muirhead
Vehicle/Train Control and Communications
System Interface Committee
(V/TC&C SIC)
FC&PS Advisory Group
Appendix B
FC&PS AG Framework of Activities
Aspirations
(Vision)
Issues
Strategy
Drivers
Research – Europe
and elsewhere
(Non-Railway)
Industry
Development
GNs,
Standards,
Principles
Culture
(Making it happen)
The above diagram outlines:
 FC&PS AG’s work in monitoring and coordinating research aimed at resolving railwayspecific issues that block progress on achieving strategic railway improvements.
 FC&PS AG’s priorities being determined both by the Rail Technical Strategy, and by the
need to comply with EU directives and the associated Technical Specifications for
Interoperability.
 FC&PS AG’s responsibility to evaluate – and where appropriate to support the funding or
facilitate trials of – emerging technologies which are appropriate for railway application,
by doing research to both resolve problems with existing applications and to enable new
ones.
 FC&PS AG’s proposal of and contribution to Guidance Notes, and participation in the
Working Groups which specify generic standards, so as to ensure that they are fit for
railway application.
 FC&PS AG’s role in ensuring that relevant best practice is communicated across the GB
railway stakeholder community.
Secretary Katie Healy Telephone 020 3142 5539 E-mail katie.healy@rssb.co.uk
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Vehicle/Train Control and Communications
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FC&PS Advisory Group
Appendix C FC&PS AG Vice-Chair: Role Description
Objective
1. Actively support the mission and aims of the FC&PS AG.
2. Support the chair in his/her tasks, promote the role of FC&PS AG and fulfil the role of client
where required.
3. Provide an external industry perspective to balance the viewpoints of rail experts on FC&PS
AG.
4. Facilitate inclusivity from GB rail industry, RIA members, wider industry, Europe (other
railways) and other manufacturers.
Role description
1. Work alongside the FC&PS AG chair, providing ad-hoc advice and support and deputising at
meetings where required.
2. Work with the chair and other FC&PS AG members to provide direction and strategy to the
FC&PS AG work plan.
3. Assist (and lead when required) the development of new investment cases and programme
definitions.
4. Attend bilateral meetings with individual stakeholders to ensure buy-in to FC&PS AG proposals
and activities.
5. Provide ad-hoc expert technical advice to specific R&D projects, including review of
deliverables.
6. Actively seek new sources of funding, both within the UK and Europe.
7. Promote the activities and interests of FC&PS AG outside the rail community, especially in
navigation and telecoms.
Required capabilities and experience
1. In-depth appreciation of the application of public telecoms to critical national infrastructure,
including rail.
2. In-depth knowledge of a wide range of positioning systems and their application to safety
critical domains.
3. Understanding of commercial supply chains and system suppliers/service providers.
4. Tact, diplomacy and sensitivity to stakeholder interests and wishes.
5. Strategic thinking and capability to align aims of stakeholders and promote initiatives.
6. Strong verbal and written communication skills.
7. Wide network of contacts in government and industry.
Katie Healy Telephone 020 3142 5539 E-mail katie.healy@rssb.co.uk
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