Q and A: The Future of Rail Connectivity Ahead of InnoTrans 2024
This week, the team is heading out to InnoTrans in Berlin, which promises to showcase the latest advancements in transportation technology with leaders from the railway industry, manufacturers, and innovators sharing their views on the future of the sector. Ahead of the show, we sat down with Axel Schroeder, Head of Global Vertical Markets to get his thoughts on the future of rail and metro connectivity.
What are the big communication trends affecting the rail and metro sectors at the moment?
As with all industries, they are being hugely impacted by digital transformation with new technologies all looking to improve efficiency and the overall experience for the customer. Whether using Digital Twins to optimize schedules and upgrades or embracing autonomous train operations there are dozens of opportunities, all requiring connectivity to underpin their success.
At RFS, we specialize in in-tunnel and in-station connectivity. With this in mind, the big trends we anticipate are:
- 5G Connectivity
5G is fast becoming an expectation of consumers regardless of where they are, and underground is no exception. Rail and Metro operators are expected to provide ultra-fast, low-latency communication to keep their customers satisfied. - IoT (Internet of Things) Adoption
IoT sensors are increasingly being used to monitor infrastructure, trains themselves, and environmental conditions. This allows for better asset management, early detection of faults, task automation, and data to improve passenger flow. However, for operators to see the most out of their IoT investment, the connectivity needs to be consistent and comprehensive. - Smart Operations
The evolution of connectivity is paving the way for autonomous train operations (ATO). Trains are increasingly being controlled remotely. The benefits are efficiency, reducing human error, and increasing punctuality, but as with all the applications discussed, the success of this hinges on having the foundational communications coverage in place.
Brilliant, based on the applications you have mentioned can you talk a little about the transition in standards to FRMCS and what it means for the industry?
GSM-R (Global System for Mobile Communications – Railways) is the current standard and although it has served the industry well, it is becoming outdated. Plus, with many networks scheduled for decommissioning by 2030, the industry is focused on adopting a new framework.
The FRMCS (Future Railway Mobile Communication System) is set to be that next-generation communication standard for the rail industry. Developed by the International Union of Railways (UIC) and 3GPP, FRMCS is designed to leverage 5G technology for applications including:
- High-speed data transfer
- Reliable voice communication for mission-critical
- Real-time video streaming for operational monitoring and emergency response
- Automated train control
- IoT integration
At RFS, we are focused on helping customers needing to upgrade their communications infrastructure now, select solutions that will support new standards as needed. This is the case across all our in-tunnel solutions: RADIAFLEX, CELLFLEX, HYBRIFLEX and FLEXWELL.
That’s great; so far, we’ve talked mainly about new and future applications in the industry. Can you give an update on the state of mission-critical communications for rail and metro operators?
One of the big considerations as the FRMCS looks to use 5G for mission-critical communications, if ensuring the resilience of the infrastructure. Rail operators moving towards the new standard need not only to future proof their infrastructure, but make sure it is bulletproof if it will be relied upon for mission-critical applications. But what does this look like?
Continuous power
Let’s take the example of power. As rail infrastructure increases in complexity, it is likely to adopt newer approaches for connectivity, for example, DRS (Distributed Radio Systems) rather than traditional DAS systems. DRS has numerous advantages from a connectivity, bandwidth and performance perspective, but has more complex power requirements. If there is a loss of power across the DRS network, it brings the system down and it is no longer able to support mission-critical communications. One of the ways RFS gets around this is to use HYBRIFLEX cable which, along with a data/fiber connection, supplies each device with a protected power source to minimize the risk in the event of an emergency.
Fire safety
Although the mandate for CPR-compliant infrastructure is driven by regulation, the importance of delivering the very best in fire safety cannot be understated. Ensuring continuous communication in the event of a fire is critical for the safety of emergency workers and to enable them to do their job, as such, we have a strong R&D commitment within RFS to the development and testing of cable for fire safety. We were the first to launch a standalone cable product to meet the highest CPR standard in 2017 and continue to invest in our onsite testing, including our new burn chamber. RFS continues to work with customers to deploy compliant solutions and deliver when it comes to fire safety.
These are just two examples. There are dozens of ways that infrastructure can be tailored to suit the needs of mission-critical deployments. The key is to understand the specific risks, look at what that worst case scenario looks like and put in place equipment that is designed to mitigate the risks.
Thank you so much, Axel, for your time.
Axel, along with more of the RFS team will be at the show in Berlin from the 24th -27th September 2024. If you would like to arrange a meeting ahead of the show, get in touch with lea.gahl[at]rfsworld.com, who will be happy to help.
