Research
Brief
Communication and positioning systems in the
GB rail industry
Overview
Global Navigation Satellite Systems
(GNSS) - GPS and the forthcoming
European Satellite system GALILEO and communications technologies are
expected to be key enablers to
maximising the operational efficiency of
the railway in Great Britain.
Satellite positioning together with
associated communications systems are
already being used in a wide range of
applications including vehicle position
monitoring, passenger information
systems, selective door opening and
customer services such as internet and
entertainment services on board trains.
In addition, digital broadband wireless
The research has resulted in the
production of two Guidance Notes (GNs);
the first concerned with digital broadband
T671
November 2008
technology including Satellite
Communications (SatCom) and
technologies such as WiFi/WiMax will
become available for transferring large
volumes of data between track and train.
Under the guidance of the Future
Communications and Positioning
Systems (FC&PS) Advisory Group, a sub
group of the Vehicle/Train Control &
Communications System Interface
Committee, research was undertaken on
how these technologies can best be
exploited by the GB rail industry. A
primary goal was to enable the use of a
single on-train infrastructure for multiple
uses, i.e. a common antenna, satellite
receiver and communications device.
wireless communications and the second
with satellite navigation and its use for
non-safety-critical position-reporting
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applications. Both guidance notes
provide guidelines on best practice for
technology selection and installation.
Benefits
The GNs provide the end users of the
technologies with sufficient information to
reduce their dependence on bespoke
systems. This is expected to bring
benefits through both economies of scale
and scope: equipment need not be
procured on a one-off basis and it can
also be used to support multiple
applications. Furthermore, the GNs
encourage the use of standard
commercial equipment to satisfy railway
applications needs and to facilitate
The Guidance Notes
Guidance Note GE/GN8579 :
Guidance on Digital Wireless
Technology
Guidance Note GE/GN8579 Guidance
on Digital Wireless Technology, sets out
good practice on the specification,
purchase and implementation of data
communications technology that can be
used to support operational passenger
upgrading to higher performance by
employing a plug-and-play architecture.
They will therefore enable the railway
industry to extract benefit from
technological progress in satellite
applications (positioning and
communications) and digital wireless
technology, through new opportunities,
shorter lead times, more cost effective
services, easier approvals and reduced
proliferation of non interoperable
equipment.
The GNs also support the aspiration of
the DfT Technical Strategy towards the
vision of intelligent trains running on an
intelligent infrastructure.
and administrative applications requiring
broadband communications. This covers
GPRS, HSPDA/UMTS, SatCom, WiFI
and WiMax, and the Internet, but at this
stage excludes GSM-R.
Four basic classes of communication
service are defined (very high to low)
depending on the availability, reliability,
integrity, and continuity requirements of
the particular application. Other
performance parameters, including
capacity and security are introduced and
described.
This GN makes a recommendation for an
IP addressing plan for use in the UK
Railways, based on an initial use of IPv4
Guidance Note GE/GN8578 :
Guidance Note on the Use of
Satellite Navigation
GE/GN8578 : Guidance on the use of
Satellite Navigation, sets out good
practice for the specification, purchase,
implementation and installation of
satellite navigation technology in support
of applications requiring train position
and speed. Descriptions are provided of
the basic satellite navigation technology
(principally GPS) and methods for
improving its performance through
augmentation and complementary
systems. Combinations of different
systems which result in different levels of
performance are described together with
indicative costs. This GN also lists the
standards that have been developed for
the interfaces between the various
components of the system.
In addition to explaining the strengths
and weaknesses of this technology in the
railway environment, this GN defines a
set of service classes aimed at enabling
TOCs and suppliers to identify and target
application requirements. These service
classes are described in terms of the
service coverage, accuracy, and integrity
provided by the satellite navigation
system, augmented - where required by
the application - with complementary
systems such as inertial sensors and
with transition to IPv6. However, the IP
addressing plan requires further
discussion and finalisation within the
Railway industry. A Public Key
Infrastructure is similarly proposed.
maps. The service classes and system
architectures proposed will also facilitate
technology upgrade to meet
requirements for progressively more
demanding applications.
Methodology
A thorough analysis of the future
requirements of the railway industry was
achieved through consultation with
industry bodies and individual
stakeholders. A review of the state of the
art application of satellite technologies on
European Railways was also
undertaken.
Two major workshops were held, the first
in November 2006 to elicit users'
ambitions for use of technology in the
future and the second, in March 2007, to
obtain feedback on the proposed
structure and contents of the Guidance
Notes. The experience of those
stakeholders that have already deployed
the technology operationally was fed into
the project, so as to capture best practice
and ensure that the lessons learned are
available to the wider railway community.
The GNs were developed in close
cooperation with the Future
Communications and Positioning
Systems (FC&PS) Advisory Group, a sub
group of the Vehicle/Train Control &
Communications System Interface
Committee, which provided feedback
and commentary throughout their
development.
The Guidance Note GE/GN8578;
Guidance on the use of Satellite
Navigation, has been published and can
be found on the RSSB web site with the
following link:
Next Steps
http://www.rgsonline.co.uk/docushare/
dsweb/Get/Rail-43810/
GEGN8578+Iss+1.pdf
The Guidance Note GE/GN8579, Digital
Wireless Technology for Train Operators,
has been published and can be found on
the RSSB web site with the following link:
http://www.rgsonline.co.uk/docushare/
dsweb/Get/Rail-43742/GEGN8579.pdf
Future updates of these Guidance Notes
are likely following use in the field and
technology changes.
Contact
Head of Engineering Research
R&D programme
RSSB
research@rssb.co.uk