Virginie Deniau

Prediction of the BER on the GSM-R communications provided by the EM transient disturbances in the railway environment

The interoperability of the train in Europe will be strived in notably harmonizing the communication systems between the trains and the control centers. The GSM-R will then become the communication system for data and voice transmission throughout the European Rail Network. However, the GSM-R communications can be significantly disturbed by the electromagnetic (EM) interferences produced by the railway vehicles and installations. Preliminary measurements highlighted that the EM disturbances produced when sparks occur due to the poor contact between the catenary and the pantograph radiate considerable energy in GSM-R band. This paper will then present the main characteristics of these transient disturbances and analyze the relevance of different characterization methods in order to establish their impact on the BER of the GSM-R communications.

On board measurements of the railway’s electromagnetic noise with moving train

The paper deals with the electromagnetic (EM) characterisation of the railway’s environment on a moving train, in the frequency band extended from 300 MHz to 1 GHz. A measurement method adapted to this context will be studied in order to characterise the interferences which can affect the on board telecommunication systems. Comparisons between measurements in time domain and frequency domain will be performed for different operating conditions.

Susceptibility of the GSM-R Transmissions to the Railway Electromagnetic Environment

The Electromagnetic radiations are non-ionising radiations; they cannot involve the ionisation of atoms or molecules. Nevertheless, they can cause various adverse effects. From a biological point of view, they provoke heating due to the occurring of induced current in the body. But, this issue will not be considered in this chapter. From a technological point of view, they can cause malfunctions, permanent damages for electronic devices or telecommunication systems. In this chapter we will focus on their impact on a telecommunication system dedicated to the European railway and potential consequences on the management of the railway network.