TTC Presented Integrated Communication across Main and Regional Railway Lines at InnoTrans

Building similar types of communication infrastructures on major railway corridors in addition to more frequented lines may not be economically or technically optimal. At this year´s InnoTrans in Berlin trade fair, TTC Group took this opportunity to present its FRMCS Lite hybrid solution, which integrates FRMCS and MCX systems with the DMR Tier III radio network.  

Using the same type of communication infrastructure for both major corridors and less busy lines may not always be appropriate. At the same time, critical communications must work across the entire railway network regardless of the technology used in certain components. The integration of various technologies and its usage according to the characteristics of individual railway lines was the focus of the TTC Group´s presentation at this year´s InnoTrans trade fair in Berlin.

TTC MARCONI, TTC MOBILE, RADIODATA, UniControls, WISE WAGON, AYUDATE, and AWOS were presented at the joint TTC booth.

DMR Can Cover Regional Rail Lines

The FRMCS Lite solution combines broadband FRMCS and MCX systems with DMR Tier III technology. In areas with adequate broadband coverage, users can use MCX voice, data, and voice services. For regional and secondary lines, a dedicated DMR Tier III network can provide critical voice communication and operational data transmission with lower demand on the infrastructure.

Both environments are connected through radio gateway. Thus, the users of cellular phones and mobile or portable radio stations can be a part of the same communications group and use voice services of critical communication, although they operate in different networks. The solution also supports the creation of dynamic groups and scenarios working with actual location, direction and speed of movement.

“Different communication technologies can be suitable in individual parts of railway network. Our goal is to integrate them, so users can be a part of common communication groups and dispatchers can access individual communication systems through a single interface. Therefore, the possibility of the safe and cost-effective radio infrastructure of the DMR Tier III is suitable for regional lines,” says Martin Bajer from TTC MARCONI.

DMR Tier III technology was presented at the exhibition by DIPRA, a system developed by the German company RADIODATA, that also belongs to the TTC Group. Their modular system includes a radio dispatcher switchboard, base stations, mobile terminals, data modems, and tools for network management. It supports group, priority and emergency calls, and can cover both smaller locations as well as larger areas.

One Dispatching System for Various Networks

Attention was also dedicated also to the KONOS voice dispatching system from TTC MARCONI. It enables the management of fixed telephone lines, analogue and digital radio networks, public radio, and the GSM-R, MCX, and FRMCS systems from a single working station.

For railway infrastructure managers and railway operators, the possibility of gradual migration is crucial. Existing and new communication technologies can simultaneously operate, without requiring an individual dispatching workstation for each system.

The MCX and FRMCS servers were part of the presented architecture. During the event, TTC MARCONI showcased its own mobile client, designed on the MCX and FRMCS client stack using 3GPP standards and its own gateways for integrating different fixed and wireless communication networks.

Additional TTC Group Technologies

The joint presentation also covered other areas of the TTC Group´s railway portfolio. UniControls presented control, information, diagnostic, and monitoring systems for rolling stocks. WISE WAGON introduced solutions integrating on-board sensors, data platforms and analytic services for monitoring the operation and technical conditions of freight wagons.

TTC MOBILE´s application for critical communication and AWOS´ solutions for industrial electronics were also part of the exhibition.