The router can receive over 1 gigabit of data per second using commercially available 4G and 5G cellular networks. Icomera says the test proves the potential for 5G to provide stable, high-speed onboard internet connections for passengers.
Austria: Infrastructure manager ÖBB Infrastructure has commissioned the country’s first digital interlocking at Achau station. The interlocking employs Siemens Mobility’s Distributed Smart Safe System (DS3) digitalisation and ‘Interlocking in the Cloud’ cloud-based solutions and will enable the implementation of smart train control and predictive maintenance systems.
United States: Transport technology firm Trainfo has introduced an app that provides drivers with predictive level crossing blockage information, helping to avoid traffic delays and reducing the risk of collisions at crossings. Beta testing of the app will start this month.
Czech Republic: Czech Railways (ČD) has announced that it is preparing to roll out its Crash Call automatic distress signal system. The Crash Call device, which will be fitted to the front of ČD trains, will automatically send a signal to the nearest emergency dispatch centre in the event of a serious incident. ČD has invited over a dozen companies to consult on the system’s implementation.
Britain: The Align joint venture, which manages the delivery of civil works on the 21.6km Lot C1 section of the HS2 high-speed rail project, has awarded a four-year contract for the monitoring of third party assets, earthworks and structures to Socotec Monitoring. Under the contract, Socotec will supply, install, and monitor instrumentation along the section, as well as record and deliver the resulting data via its online data visualisation platform.
Poland: Operator PKP Intercity has rolled out Alstom’s rolling stock predictive maintenance technology, TrainScanner, at its Pendolino maintenance depot in Warsaw, where the technology will be used to maintain PKP’s fleet of 20 Alstom Pendolinos. TrainScanner employs 3D cameras, lasers, and digital data analysis to calculate the health status of individual components and identify the optimal time for their replacement.
France: French National Railways (SNCF) has selected Icomera, Sweden, to equip its fleet of 203 Intercités coaches with onboard passenger Wi-Fi. Icomera previously installed Wi-Fi on a fleet of 26 eight-car TGV trains in 2016 under a contract renewed in June this year.
Russia: Russian Railways (RZD) has agreed to join the German-Russian Initiative for the Digitalisation of the Economy (Grid), an alliance of German and Russian businesses and associations which aims to accelerate the adoption of new digital technologies. RZD joined the initiative during the online Digital Transformation of the Mobility Sector conference on November 20.
Britain: The British government has awarded £2.5m from its Getting Building Fund to renewable energy provider Riding Sunbeams to construct a 3.75MW solar energy farm in Eastbourne, West Sussex, which will be used to power the mainline between London and the south coast. The Cuckmere Community Solar Farm is scheduled to begin operation by March 2022 and is expected to generate an annual carbon saving of over 820 tonnes of CO2.
