Siemens Mobility awarded Norwegian cab radio framework contract

Credit: Siemens Mobility Limited

Siemens Mobility Limited has announced that is has been awarded a six-year framework contract by the Norwegian rolling stock owner Norske tog AS, covering the supply of 570 GSM-R (Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway) train cab radios.

Preliminary design work for the cab radio upgrade programme is currently underway, with the programme set to deliver significant benefits to passengers, freight users and railway operators by resolving obsolescence issues, while also working to reduce the risk and performance impact caused by radio interference from 4G public mobile network operators.

The contract includes an option to upgrade the existing radios to operate using the 5G Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS), the first such upgrade contract to be awarded in the industry.

FRMCS is the next-generation worldwide telecommunication system for railways, which will ultimately replace GSM-R. It is a key enabler for digitalisation within the rail industry and provides a range of opportunities to enhance the passenger experience with live video entertainment, video security transmission and dynamic passenger information systems. The future FRMCS upgrade will adapt and re-use the existing on-board infrastructure, ensuring costs are kept to a minimum.

The contract also includes a 12-month trial of Siemens Mobility’s Trainborne Condition Monitoring (TBCM) smart application, which will provide Norske tog AS with the facility to remotely monitor the condition of its track assets.

By harvesting fleet-wide condition data in real-time, TBCM will wirelessly create a digital representation of the condition of the track assets, enabling preventive and predictive maintenance to be carried out. This will result in improved reliability for passengers, fewer delays and a more efficient and cost-effective maintenance programme for asset owners and maintainers.

Managing Director of Rail Infrastructure for Siemens Mobility in the UK, Rob Morris, said: “We have a long and proud record of developing and supplying GSM-R equipment for railway operators worldwide, and our proven ability to develop bespoke solutions, as well as our flexible approach to installation, were key to our success in being awarded this contract. It is through digital solutions, such as this, that we enable railway operators worldwide to make their trains and infrastructure more intelligent and to enhance the passenger experience.”

He added: “Our experienced design team has been working on the next generation FRMCS technology and to develop products and systems that will continue to meet our global customers’ requirements. We now have a system that will adapt and re-use existing on-board infrastructure, so significantly reducing the cost of change.”