Talk:GSM-R

Quality of Article
The article looks like a collection of unordered brain- and picturedumps. While most of the content is appropriate, the article itself might be extended to be a bit more descriptive. It contains various lists of features but does not really describe their meaning. I added a reference to the SRS documents that references those features. Some of the documented features are incomplete and they differn in their granularity.

Instead of listing a whole lot of products it should provide more information, what GSM-R is really used for and how the provided features are used.

Categorization of Uses
The article describes two kindes of usages: Main Usage and Other Usage.

Those categories are not really appropriate as data communication might be more widespread, but is not really a special GSM-R feature. The data features are easy to adapt, but the goal is to replace analog radio communication by GSM-R. So VGCs, Broadcast-Calls and especially the functional registration are important features and not just side usages. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2001:6F8:1183:1:96DB:C9FF:FEF7:D706 (talk) 21:23, 23 April 2014 (UTC)

GSM-R deployment
where is GSM-R deployed these days? 59.144.163.16 11:55, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
 * GSM-R is actually deployed on French East High speed line (LGV Est) for a commercial use (TGV POS and ICE trains). I ever done tests on GSM-R network on Switzerland (Rail Networks near Berne) and German Rail Networks (near Stuttgart), Rotterdam in Netherlands, Madrid in Spain, Trondheim in Norway, Upsala in Sweden, Roma in Italy (yes I really go there, that's a lot of places!!!), but I don't know if it's actually in use on commercial lines. Niouniou46 01:18, 22 June 2007 (UTC)

Not to be fussy or anything, but is there a reason why the table of countries is not in alphabetical order? Paul Niquette (talk) 00:50, 7 December 2011 (UTC)

We definitely need more (!) information on GSM-R-Networks deployed in countries outside europe and the GSM-R-frequencies (!) they use. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 130.83.72.241 (talk) 19:11, 13 April 2013 (UTC)

Sharing between GSM and GSM-R
Is it true that GSM-M can use GSM infrastructure where it exists, and only has to build its own towers in say "blind spots" where GSM coverage is poor. And visa versa. Tabletop 02:08, 24 September 2007 (UTC)
 * I know that GSM-R phones can work on GSM networks, I don't know if is true also the vice versa. --Ale85 (talk) 15:50, 17 February 2008 (UTC)

I can answer both these questions for you. 1.It is not true to say that railways only build GSM-R infrastructure where GSM has no coverage. The GSM-R networks are continuous over entire routes. GSM may be used as a backup in the event of failure. GSM does not have the necessary functionality to provide the features required of a secure railway radio system.

2. Technically GSM-R handsets/cab radios are capable of operating in both the railway and public GSM bands. However, the ability to do this requires so-called "Roaming Agreements" which must be negotiated with the operators of public networks. Roaming from public networks into the railway networks is not permitted due to the potential to compromise railway safety. In paractice there are some roaming agreements between railways and GSM public network operators and are used where GSM-R doesn't exist or in the event of failure of the railway network.

I hope this answers your questions - if not there are a number of publications and web sites that may be referred to for more detail on the subject including the Institute of Railway Signal Engineers' (IRSE) excellent book on Railway Telecommunications published in 2004. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.65.206.223 (talk) 13:43, 14 May 2008 (UTC)


 * Let me extend this a bit.
 * There are Railways out there (like SBB) who actually use a fallback to a GSM-P network for areas where no GSM-R is available.
 * This GSM-P network provided by SwissCom has some special features enabled allowing the usage of some of the GSM-R functions along the vanilla GSM network.
 * Another reason, why GSM-P phones cannot roam to GSM-R networks is, that GSM-R uses slightly different bands that are near to the GSM-P frequencies but blocked on normal phones. So, it is not just a matter of SIM-Cards used but also of the radio firmware and the GSM stack. It seems like some hardware might be patched to allow GSM-R as well, as hardware devices like the TRM-3a (based on Siemens mc55 and TRM-S75 show). You are also able to find GSM-R frequencies using a motorola C123 and the osmocombb software. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2001:6F8:1183:1:96DB:C9FF:FEF7:D706 (talk) 21:08, 23 April 2014 (UTC)

public phone booth in waggon in Austria have been GSM-R?
When mobil phones (cell phones) had already become as lightweight as 0,3 kg and affordable for quite some people in Austria, I think about 1995, the Austrian Railway ÖBB offered in some modern railway waggons a telephone booth to be used by passengers, You needed the telephon cards (value is booked down in units of 1 ATS then) of the Austrian Telekom, which has to be used (until nowadays) in a growing part of the automated telephon booths in the streets. Possibly the system was based on GSM-R. 91.141.93.42 (talk) 09:37, 17 June 2009 (UTC) johannes muhr, graz (A)

No, this would not have been GSM-R. Firstly the timing is not right because GSM-R was not deployed in Austria at that time and secondly because the arrangement under which railway undertakings are granted GSM operator's licenses prohibits the use of the network for commercial, non-railway purposes. This latter provision is to prevent competition with public telecom operators. Jeremy Saul, UK

More countries with GSM-R-Networks worldwide ! (Update required)
I've updated the section with the frequency bands (India, China, South Africa, Australia).

Referring to the german wiki-site: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM-R#Verwendung and a presentation from Kapsch, an Austrian Rail infrastructure and GSM-R-supplier http://www.antt.gov.br/html/objects/_downloadblob.php?cod_blob=6579 (might require a second click for the pdf to download) there are many more countries that implemented / are implementing GSM-R. I've listed these countries below. It would be appreciable if somebody could find out more about which frequencies are used in each country.

in ITU-Region 1: Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Usbekistan, Israel (uncertain), Iran, Iraq (uncertain), Saudi Arabia (in operation), VAE (in operation), Qatar (in operation), Egypt, Libya (in operation), Tunesia (in operation), Algeria (in operation), Morocco (in operation), Nigeria,

in ITU-Region 2: Argentinia, Brazil, USA (feasability studies only), Mexiko (in Mexico City?), Venezuela, Chile,

in ITU-Region 3: Taiwan (uncertain), South Korea, Thailand

130.83.72.128 (talk) 22:32, 18 April 2013 (UTC)

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