Signalling and Telecoms

At a recent IRSE section event in Birmingham, Tim Lane, principal strategy and innovation manager, Network Rail Telecom (NRT), gave a presentation on Network Rail’s latest innovations in telecommunications and how these may be applied to future deployment on the...

The safe operation and signalling of single-line railways are crucial as any head-on crash between two trains is potentially catastrophic. Incidents of this nature are thankfully very rare as the systems devised to allow only one train into a single-line...

The tragic accident on the Croydon tram network in November 2016, in which seven people were killed and many more injured, has raised many questions about tram safety. As reported in issue 171 (Jan/Feb 2019), several recommendations were made in the...

It is easy to forget that GSM-R, as the standardised track to train radio system across Europe, has been around for over 25 years. The agreement to use GSM technology rather than Tetra was arrived at back in 1992, with...

The Thameslink north-south rail link across London is nearing fulfilment. Despite the timetable problems back in May 2018, the enhanced capacity on the route is already easing the daily commutes for thousands of people. When it reaches its full potential of...

The advancement of signalling has been driven by the need to control train movements in the most efficient manner whilst optimising the capacity of a given layout configuration. Progress has been achieved as a result of technological...

One of the main safety requirements of a train control system is that, before a train is given authority to move along a section of line, it has to be proved to be clear of other traffic. Thus, the...

A common bearer (transport layer) telecoms network takes advantage of the new digital technologies and ‘big data’ applications in order to provide a safe, efficient, reliable railway. In very simple terms, this unseen telecoms network is the ‘glue’ that binds...

Above - CPC commercial manager John Mogridge and Egis systems integration lead François Pignard looking at the in-cab display for the Iarnród Éireann Train Protection System. (CPC Project Services)

Stuart Calvert, director of programme technical services and supply chain at Network Rail’s Group Digital Railway (GDR), has been announced as its new managing director following the retirement of David Waboso. When he takes up his new...