FRMCS, 5G & Rail Safety: Future of UK, US, France Railways

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Introduction

As commercial rail celebrates its bicentenary, VIAVI Solutions’ Product Line Manager, Railway, Massimiliano Beccuti, examines the evolution of communication networks, a critical element in enabling trains to operate safely at speeds of up to 250 mph and beyond. The journey began on a 26-mile track between Stockton and Darlington in the North of England on September 27, 1825.

Early Safety Communications

In the 1820s, the most advanced communication system was a man on horseback riding ahead of the train. This practice continued until 1833. The Stockton-Darlington line, opened as a mixed-use line hauling both coal and passengers, initially used separate, horse-drawn passenger trains. Passing points were established for two-way traffic, but safety systems were needed. Just two weeks after the Stockton-Darlington line’s opening, the first timetable was launched on October 10, reducing the risk of collisions and wait times at passing points.

Formal Signaling Systems and Automation

Commercial rail networks expanded rapidly, starting with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in May 1830, which initiated the U.S. rail network. In the 1830s, flagmen were hired to relay warnings, using flags during the day and lanterns at night. These became known as Bobbies, particularly in the UK. Semaphore, invented in 1792, was adapted for railway use, with mechanical arms on signal boxes deployed from 1841. The telegraph, invented in 1837, further aided communication by allowing almost instantaneous long-distance communication between signal boxes, regardless of weather conditions. Block signaling, a core safety principle, was implemented, sectioning the line into blocks and permitting only one train per block. In 1872, the first stages of automation began with track circuits, providing real-time confirmation of an occupied block.

Infrastructure-to-Train Communications

Electric signaling emerged in the 1920s, replacing oil lamps and semaphores with electric light signals. Centralized traffic control (CTC), first adopted by U.S. railroads, and interlocking systems were introduced. Despite these advancements, human error persisted. The Harrow and Wealdstone rail disaster in the UK in 1952, resulting in 112 fatalities, prompted the implementation of automated warning systems from the late 1950s. These systems used magnets on the rails and magnetic field sensors on locomotives to provide visual and audible warnings, with automatic brake application if no acknowledgment was received. By the 1990s, the rail-specific 2G mobile standard, GSM-R, came into effect, offering voice and data links and integrating with systems such as Positive Train Control (PTC) and the European Train Control System.

Digital Communications and the Future of Rail Safety

The 2G mobile signal is set to become obsolete, with service providers in the U.S. already discontinuing 2G services. France will switch off 2G services from 2026, with Germany and the UK following. The Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS), based on 5G NR technology, has been developed to replace GSM-R, enabling higher capacities and lower latencies. The MORANE-2 project in France, backed by EU-RAIL and the European Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertakings, aims to test FRMCS specifications and integrate them into the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS). Operators like Amtrak and freight companies are exploring 5G-based solutions to enhance PTC’s capabilities in the U.S.

Conclusion

The future of rail safety depends on high-speed, data-rich 5G environments. This will ensure that the next 200 years will be safer.

Company Summary

VIAVI Solutions: Massimiliano Beccuti is the Product Line Director for Railway at VIAVI Solutions. The company is involved in the MORANE-2 project.

Technology

GSM-R: A rail-specific version of the 2G mobile standard.

PTC: Positive Train Control.

FRMCS: Future Railway Mobile Communication System.

ERTMS: European Rail Traffic Management System.

CTC: Centralized Traffic Control.

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