Transport Communication Networks

SYSTRA understands the importance of designing and delivering secure, reliable telecommunications systems for railways in the UK and Ireland – helping the industry embrace new technologies to enhance the safety, efficiency and performance of rail services.

Communications for safe and reliable railways

Railways frequently require independent communications networks to meet their specific operational and commercial needs. These networks play a vital role in enabling running safe and efficient train services through the provision of reliable, secure communication channels between drivers, trackworkers, signallers and controllers.

Railway operators face the challenge of ensuring new telecommunication systems provide requisite functionality whilst meeting stringent availability, capacity, latency, coverage and security requirements. Due to their niche nature, technology changes in railway telecommunications networks typically occur at much longer intervals than their public counterparts hence managing the risk of obsolescence is a key consideration when deploying new telecommunications technology.

SYSTRA offers expertise and experience in this niche area to help railways select, scope and design their fixed and radio-based telecommunications networks.

our experience

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As an independent railway telecommunications consultancy, SYSTRA can select the most appropriate technologies for each rail application.

Expertise in all railway telecommunications systems

The transport communications specialists at SYSTRA have expertise in circuit and packet-switched fixed telecommunications networks, Global System for Mobile Communications-Railway (GSM-R) and metro communication-based train control (CBTC) technologies. This capability is supplemented by expertise in cyber-security, reliability, availability and maintainability and engineering safety management.

As well as supporting operational communications, telecommunications networks are increasingly used to transmit and receive signalling data, making reliable systems an essential component of modern signalling systems. Notably GSM-R radio networks are used as bearer for European Train Control System (ETCS) data on many of the world’s mainline railways, which SYSTRA helped deliver. Similarly, metro CBTC systems depend on radio-based communications technologies to control the safe movement of trains.

Delivering safe, secure and reliable rail communications

SYSTRA understands the challenges and opportunities for railway communications systems, as the railways embrace new technologies and adjust to managing greater volumes of voice and data traffic.

Our expertise as an independent adviser helps clients to implement the most appropriate communication systems and signalling technologies to support changing patterns of railway usage, while ensuring security, safety and reliability are never compromised.

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