As the industry waits for FRMCS to arrive, rail operators face a growing need for smarter, real-time connectivity. Siemens Mobility explains how today’s technology can unlock tomorrow’s digital benefits without the long wait.
Creating a real-time datalink between trains and rail infrastructure offers a powerful opportunity to improve railway performance.
A safe and reliable connection enables data-driven capabilities such as smart infrastructure monitoring and enhanced speed advice for train drivers, which can save significant costs for the railway.
However, train communications currently use GSM-R, which is a 2G technology with very little data handling capability. While the Future Railway Mobile Communications System (FRMCS) promises a 5G-enabled future with transformative data capabilities, implementation is not possible until the publication of the ‘1st edition’ specification, which is expected in 2028. Furthermore, adoption from that point onwards still has many challenges to overcome until roll-out is possible within the UK.
This delay in reliable real-time connectivity means the industry is missing opportunities to reduce costs through smart data enabled capabilities today.
The pressure to increase performance and cut costs means the rail industry can’t afford to wait to unlock the digital potential offered by a 5G connection between track and train. Equally, investment in completely new solutions and technology represents a significant cost.
So, the challenge is clear, how can the rail industry bridge this connectivity gap with existing technology, in order to unlock the benefits of advanced connectivity today, rather than waiting for tomorrow?
Bridging the connectivity gap
Fortunately, the rail industry already has part of the connectivity solution installed on all trains operating on Network Rail’s infrastructure in the UK, in the form of the GSM-R cab radio.
By enhancing existing GSM-R radios with robust 4G LTE and GNSS/GPS capabilities, enabled through a straightforward antenna upgrade, the rail industry can enjoy the seamless, real-time data flows to and from the train and trackside equipment.
This Siemens Mobility solution, called Datalink Services, opens the door to transforming assets into smarter components of a more intelligent and efficient rail ecosystem.
Connected rail capabilities
Datalink Services provides the platform for capabilities such as Trainborne Condition Monitoring (TBCM) thanks to its ability to enable real time data flows.
TBCM uses the Global Positioning System (GPS) and accelerometer embedded in Siemens GSM-R cab radios to continuously monitor track conditions and detect anomalies early.
This is especially important considering intensified rainfall, ageing infrastructure, and poor drainage are contributing to a rise in track failures. In fact, £38.6 million was spent by Network Rail on landslide repairs in 2022. Reactive methods of identifying track faults, such as driver reports of ‘rough rides,’ can mean that they aren’t identified in time to run pre-emptive repairs.
TBCM can help address this, and has been proven during trials to identify track defects up to six months in advance, enabling timely, cost-effective intervention.
Another performance and safety boosting capability enabled by Datalink Services is the Connected Driver Advisory System (C-DAS).
Driver advisory systems are powerful tools for optimising train performance, but their full potential is only realised with reliable, real-time connectivity. C-DAS, supported by Datalink Services, uses real time traffic data to provide drivers with dynamic, precise speed guidance. This significantly reduces overspeeding incidents, enhances safety protocols, and refines speed profiles across the network before traffic management is implemented.
If the industry adopted C-DAS today, it could save millions of pounds annually in disruption costs caused by overspeeding. Deploying the technology would provide audible speed notifications specific to each area, helping to mitigate many of the communication failures that are frequently identified as the root cause of overspeeding incidents.
Furthermore, C-DAS has demonstrated the capacity to boost fuel and traction power efficiency by up to 15%, representing a potential annual saving of £150 million across the UK fleet.
Both TBCM and C-DAS have already been validated through pilot schemes in Scotland and the South West Rail infrastructure, demonstrating that Datalink Services are a viable, proven option for Britain’s rail industry.
Seamless integration
Steve Parsons, Business Development Lead for Mobile Communications at Siemens Mobility UK&I says: “The industry is very excited about the adoption of FRMCS, but until that’s available, we have the opportunity to create intelligent, cost effective, digital connectivity that can deliver real benefits today.”
He explains that a critical consideration for any interim solution is its ease of deployment and minimal disruption to existing operations. Siemens Datalink Services have been engineered with this in mind. The estimated cost for upgrading the entire UK fleet represents a cost-effective investment for the scale of benefits that could be delivered across the network.
Furthermore, the installation process is designed for efficiency, with equipment engineered as a fit-and-form match for existing antenna mountings. This allows for integration during planned train maintenance schedules, ensuring minimal impact on service delivery.
Embracing the future
While the long-term vision of FRMCS rightly guides strategic planning, the rail industry cannot afford to defer critical operational enhancements.
The Rail Reform vision of transforming every train into a dynamic mobile monitoring platform doesn’t have to be a distant aspiration. With Siemens Datalink Services, you can harness existing, proven technology to make this a powerful reality now.
Steve Parsons | Business Development Lead for Mobile Communications | Siemens Mobility UK&I | +44 7921 248627
Image credit: Siemens Mobility