The railway section Beroun – Plzeň – Cheb is covered by the GSM-R signal

18.10.2016

Plzeň, 18 October, 2016 – Správa železniční dopravní cesty (the Czech Railway Infrastructure Administration) has introduced digital radio system GSM-R along approximately 185 km long railway section Beroun – Cheb. The ceremonial completion of the construction took place today at the railway station Pilsen Main Station.

“The construction of the GSM-R network is especially crucial for operational reasons, but ultimately the passengers will enjoy the benefits, too. With it, not only the railway traffic will be simplified, but also security will improve,” said Mr. Pavel Surý, Director General of SŽDC.

GSM-R (Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway) is an international wireless communication standard designed for railway applications. Thanks to the project, a significant part of Coridor III is covered by this signal in a quality that meets the international standard EIRENE (European Integrated Railway Radio Enhanced Network). In the future, it will enable to deploy the security system ETCS at the L2 level.

The main objective of the project was the construction of base stations, which provide GSM-R signal propagation along the said track section and the connection between the user network and its central connection system. With the expansion of the GSM-R, central switching and control part of the system was also extended in the appropriate range. Also the necessary terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure was completed. A substantial part of the construction is completed; exceptions are the sections where currently other investments are underway, i.e. the modernisation of the Rokycany – Pilsen and Pilsen node, the first construction – reconstruction of the Prague gridiron.

The project will ensure the mobile phone and data communication for the needs of railway traffic, i.e. basic voice communication, communication with vehicles in motion, text messaging, data services and applications to create special user groups.

Kapsch CarrierCom s.r.o. is the contractor of the construction named GSM-R III. Corridor Beroun - Plzeň - Cheb. “With the rapid introduction of pan-European standard GSM-R, the Czech Republic improves the competitiveness of domestic carriers and domestic railway infrastructure. GSM-R is also considered one of the most successful European projects – it has gradually evolved from a European standard to a worldwide standard,“ said Karel Feix, Director General of the Kapsch company, which is the world leader in GSM-R technology implementing the technology for instance in France, Germany, Austria, England, Poland, Spain or Italy.

It is a phased project, where Phase I was approved for co-financing from OP Transport in the programming period of 2007-2013.

The total cost of Phase I amounted to CZK 121,877,835 (VAT excluded). The EU’s contribution from the Cohesion Fund for Phase I was CZK 94,966,422. In Phase II, co-financing is expected in the future from OP Transport in the programming period 2014-2020. The estimated total cost of the whole construction is CZK 451,306,643 (VAT excluded). The planned contribution from the European Union Cohesion Fund for the whole construction amounts to CZK 357,893,506. National financing is secured by the State Fund for Transport Infrastructure.

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