Clear CinCom-Cellular Network Services

Hattem (The Netherlands) Dive Under

Radio network testing was conducted for a repeater cell which was installed in the Dive Under tunnel as part of the Veluwelijn and the Hanzelijn. This test was conducted using a scheduled commuter train with a test radio connected to the trains GSM-R antenna. This specific test proved the correct functionality of this repeater and ensured that the coverage levels in the Dive Under are acceptable for safe voice train communication.

Utrecht (The Netherlands) Triangle Re-design and Post Optimization Testing

The Utrecht Triangle consists of national train lines that connect Utrecht with Breudijk to the west and an ETCS line to Breukelen in the north. This critical and busy region underwent many optimization changes that encompassed cell additions and removals, physical antenna changes and frequency re-planning to four important GSM-R network cell sites.

In addition to the GSM-R coverage, Bit Error Rate and Call Setup testing was conducted to ensure a high level of GSM-R network quality was maintained when the optimization changes were implemented.

Almere (The Netherlands) Region Network Quality Investigation

GSM-R network quality issues were discovered in the Almere region utilizing static measurement equipment. The test setup encompassed the use of a Kapsch radio and a TrioRail handset in dedicated mode connected to antennas mounted on a tripod at the side of the track. A potential interfering frequency from another GSM-R network cell was identified. From the information gleaned from the test, optimization work ensued to eliminate the interfering frequency and solve the quality issue.

Almere and Leiden (The Netherlands) Integration Measurements

The GSM-R cell sites serving the train stations in Almere and Leiden underwent carrier unit additions to improve capacity for the new InfoPlus panel installations.

The new TCH (traffic channel) frequencies which are assigned to the new carriers units, needed to undergo integration testing to ensure no GSM-R network degradation was present to the surrounding network. Both GSM-R network coverage and quality were tested with a high degree of success.

The integration of the new carrier units and the associated frequencies were accepted into the Netherlands GSM-R network with a quick and efficient turn around time between its inception and delivery.

Tunnel Oude Maas (The Netherlands)

The Tunnel Oude Maas is a two tube tunnel on the High Speed Line which underwent a replacement for 325m of ‘leaky feeder cable’.

This is a special location area, in which the requirement for both the GSM-R radio environment and the C2000 (emergency TETRA radio network) environment were tested. The equipment used a Clear CinCom inspired hybrid designed of bespoke testing and standard testing platforms, consisting of Kapsch radios for the GSM-R and a Rohde & Schwarz TSML CW Scanner for the C2000. In addition to this, because of the tunnel environment, location based GPS data could not be used. Therefore a unique installation was commissioned to use a train odometery system in conjunction with track Km markers to ensure the recorded levels were accurately referenced to a position. All the tests were conducted in both the ‘uplink’ and ‘downlink’ directions which ensured full functionality for both technologies.

Oldenzaal (The Netherlands) GSM-R Site Re-location

The re-location of this GSM-R site was required due to the development of the surrounding commercial land. Clear CinCom conducted Carrier Wave measurements in the new site location to gauge the levels of coverage which would be provided by the new site in this area.

LMW Carrier Wave transmitter equipment was used to radiate a test signal along an important regional rail track which links the Netherlands with Germany. A scheduled passenger train was used to measure the transmitted levels by using an Agilent scanner and a test PC connected to the trains GSM-R antenna.

Drontenmeer Tunnel (The Netherlands) - C2000 (TETRA) Measurements

The Drontenmeer Tunnel is located on the Hanzelijn between Lelystad and Zwolle. Clear CinCom conducted C2000 measurement inside tunnel on foot using an Anritsu handheld scanner and a TETRA ‘quarter wave’ receive antenna which was pole mounted. Measurements were taken at 10m intervals to ensure the received levels from the C2000 donor sites would service the tunnel in case of emergency situations. In addition to this, Line of Sight surveys were conducted to assist in the selection of the best serving site.

Arnhem (The Netherlands) Central Station – Continuous Wave Measurements

The re-design and build of Arnhem Central Station requires the surrounding GSM-R radio network to be modified to ensure it serves the new platform, station hall and InfoPlus panels with acceptable coverage levels and suitable capacity.

A continuous wave measurement test was conducted to ensure the new proposed site location was suitable for the required re-design. Using an LMW Carrier Wave transmitter equipment setup, a survey was conducted on foot in the new station hall, platforms and utility locations to identify any areas of concern if they were present.

Further to this, a Line of Sight survey was conducted which assisted in the decision making process regarding the location of the new site.

Arnhem (The Netherlands) Dive Under – C2000 (TETRA) Measurements

In conjunction with the re-design of Arnhem Central Station a new dive under is being constructed to alleviate the congestion of heavy rail fright traffic bound for the Betuwe freight line.

The receive levels were measured from a number of C2000 donor sites at the location identified for the new pick-up antenna to serve the tunnel. A Rohde & Schwarz scanner was used with different antennas from a panel type to a yagi, which provided a number of scenarios which assisted in the decision making to finalize the design.

Clear CinCom engineers measured the losses and gains for all the individual elements of the test equipment setup, assimilated an accurate ‘link budget’ and applied an offset to the recorded results. This provided the customer with increased accuracy when reporting the received signal levels.

Hanzelijn (The Netherlands) – New Site Integration Test Measurements

On completion of building the 6 sites on the new Hanzelijn, extensive GSM-R testing was executed on all the connecting and surrounding train lines to ensure no network degradation was present.

The testing consisted of coverage and quality over a period of one week which illustrated the successful integration of the new Hanzelijn sites. Clear CinCom engineers worked closely with Nokia Siemens Networks staff to integrate the new sites on this important project, with a minimum of optimization required on the test drives to ensure all the key performance indicators passed.

The Hanzelijn (The Netherlands) – Testing and Optimisation

With the construction and commisioning of the 6 new sites on the Hanzelijn being completed, testing and optimisation commenced. The Hanzelijn runs for approximately 45km between the towns of Lelystad and Zwolle with the test runs taking place along the entire length of the track.

The GSM-R coverage, the handover behaviour between the cells and the repeater redundancy concept for the Drontermeer tunnel , was analyzed and optimised in order to be compliant with SubSet093 for the ETCS Level 2 railway line. Various KPI's were tested among the Bit Error Rate, Transmission Interference Rate, Call Setup Success Rate and Transfer Delay Rate were all measured to gauge the quality of the GSM-R radio environment.

The testing also required the C2000 (TETRA) network to be measured along the complete Hanzelijn track and in the Drontermeer tunnel in both the downlink and uplink directions. Further to this, a test was conducted ‘on foot’ in the escape areas of the Drontermeer Tunnel. The equipment and the unique adaptation of the wheel sensor/odometry system (as used in the HSL-Z Tunnel Oude Maas test) were implemented for the C2000 testing of the Hanzelijn.

The Hanzelijn (The Netherlands) – Quality of Service Testing

With the initial optimisation of the Hanzelijn completed, Clear CinCom engineers undertook an intensive 5 day program of Quality of Service measurements. These Quality of Service measurements encompassed the National network criteria and Subset-093 in accordance with ERTMS GSM-R QoS Test Specification 0-2475v3.

A number of test setup’s were run simultaneously to record the results for Bit Error Rate, Transmission Interference Rate, Data Delay, Connection Loss Rate, Connection Establishment Delay, Call Setup Success Time and Call Setup Success Rate at data speeds of 2400bps, 4800bps and 9600bps. In addition to this the coverage in accordance with EIRENE was also measured every 100m section of track.

Further to conducting the test measurements, Clear CinCom successfully assembled and installed a Fixed Side setup with 4x V110 modems based on a PRI Card and a Desktop PC. The installation was connected to a E1 line and setup in the Lelystad RBC technical room. This provided the fixed side engineer with a simple, robust and reliable installation for the Subset-093 Transmission Interference Rate measurements which saved the client money and time.

SLA Trend Analysis

Producing insight in the GSM-R radio network performance trend for the years 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2009.

Validation of GSM-R Radio Network at train station Rotterdam Blaak

After the implementation of the GSM-R radio network at train station Rotterdam Blaak as designed by Clear CinCom, the radio engineers tested and validated the performance of the radio network at various InfoPlus passenger information panels. These panels have a inbuilt GSM-R GPRS modem enabling the train departure information being send over the GSM-R network.

Validation of GSM-R Radio Network at Schiphol Airport

After the implementation of the GSM-R radio network at Schiphol Airport as designed by Clear CinCom, the radio engineers tested and validated the performance of the radio network at various InfoPlus passenger information panels at Schiphol Plaza. These panels have a inbuilt GSM-R GPRS modem enabling the train departure information being send over the GSM-R network.

Betuwe Route Performance Measurement

The major railway freight line of the Betuwe Route in The Netherlands was performance tested by Clear CinCom engineers. The quality parameters of the Bit Error Rate, Transmission Interference Rate, Call Setup Success Rate and Call Setup Times were all tested simultaneously. The measurements provided all concerned parties with an indication of quality and effectiveness of this important ERTMS served freight railway track.

The performance measurements were conducted along the entire length of the Betuwe Route in both directions to ensure consistent and accurate results, which Clear CinCom are renowned for delivering.

GPRS Validation

GPRS ‘ping’ testing was undertaken to gauge the quality of the data transfer in Dutch GSM-R network. The test was conducted by utilizing three set-ups running simultaneously over three different BSC areas on national railway tracks. Many thousands of samples were collected and analyzed which illustrated the high quality and low ‘delay times’ of data transfer in the GSM-R network.

Continuous Wave Measurements - Amsterdam Centraal Station

Clear CinCom engineers undertaken Continuous Wave measurements in the central railway station in the capital city of Amsterdam in The Netherlands. These measurements were conducted to determine the best location for a new site design, to serve a major re-development and role out of the InfoPlus digital information panels throughout the station. The station itself has a system of three tunnels which connect the main station hall to the platforms. These tunnels provided a difficult technical challenge to ensure the required levels of coverage were met whilst testing the individual locations for the new proposed radio site.

Validation of Network Capacity Upgrades Hilversum – Best – Eindhoven

On the busy national railway lines in the Amsterdam and Eindhoven regions of The Netherlands, GSM-R radio network capacity upgrades were required. Two additional carrier units and a carrier unit swap were identified as a course of action to meet the traffic requirements. When the design was implemented, Clear CinCom engineers validated and tested the GSM-R network in the local areas to ensure the new carrier additions and carrier swap were not only effective, but also to ensure no GSM-R network degradation and interference was present.

The comprehensive testing proved the design did not effect the coverage or the quality of Dutch GSM-R network whilst at the same time providing the much needed capacity improvements.

Nijverdal (The Netherlands) Re-development

Major re-development work in the Nijverdal area includes a lengthy tunnel being excavated so the nation train line can run beneath the town.

Due to this, the GSM-R installations that currently serve the Nijverdal area required to be relocated/re-designed to ensure the required levels of service are maintained. In addition to this, the C2000 (TETRA) aspects for emergency services had to be taken into account because of the new tunnel being constructed.

Two continuous wave radio tests were conducted at the new site locations based at each end of the tunnel. A drive survey record the measured levels along the track in question in both an easterly and westerly direction for both locations. The C2000 test was conducted to measure the received signal levels from the donor site; again this was conducted in the two locations for the proposed new installation.

Site Integration Testing - Almere/Leiden/Amsterdam-Zuid (The Netherlands)

GSM-R network capacity upgrades were required with the implementation of new InfoPlus panels at the stations of Almere, Leiden and Amsterdam-Zuid

The additional carrier units and the associated new TCH frequencies required integration testing to ensure no network degradation was present on the surround train lines. Both coverage and quality were tested which lead to the successful completion of the carrier upgrade program.

SLA 2010 (The Netherlands)

The annual GSM-R Radio ‘Service Level Agreement’ measurements in 2010 encompassed the testing of the High Speed Line, the Betuwe freight line and all the ‘Non Centrally Serviced Areas’ (NCBG) which involved connecting branch lines to busy shunting and freight areas.

In addition to utilizing the Kapsch radio modules to measure the coverage and Idle Mode state, an Agilent scanner was used to conduct spectrum measurements and TrioRail handsets for Carrier to Interference measurements. The Idle Mode measurements provided invaluable data with regards to defining the network in relation to the VGCS (Voice Group Call Areas). With conducting all the tests simultaneously, aspects of both coverage and quality were tested to ensure a high level of GSM-R service to enhance safety in potentially dangerous and busy industrial areas.

Re-design VGCS configuration Utrecht

Redesign of the railways around Utrecht, which required a new design of the VGCS (Voice Group Call Service) group call areas.

HSL Zuid High Speed Connection

Design and optimisation of the redundant (double coverage) layer for the underground passages of the high speed train connection that connects Rotterdam to Brussels.

Rotterdam Harbor

Optimisation of network in the world’s largest harbor, to ensure GSM-R connectivity for transportation of goods

InfoPlus GSM-R Network Selection Test

Tests around the country to ensure that the modem in InfoPlus railway information boarding connects properly to the GSM-R network.

Relocation of Existing GSM-R BTS Sites

Radio planning of new locations for existing BTS points, Radio Site Acceptance Tests (SAT).

Amsterdam Central Station, Utrecht Central Station, Rotterdam Blaak Station, Schiphol Airport Train Terminal

Design GSM-R network to connect InfoPlus information boarding for all platforms, tunnels and halls.

Supervision of transmission plan

For the Dutch high speed train connection Hanzelijn, Clear CinCom has been put in charge of supervising the GSM-R transmission plan for the entire route.

Coordinate Line of Sight requests

For the development of the new high speed train connection between the West and East of The Netherlands, the Hanzelijn, Clear CinCom supervises all Line of Sight (LoS) requests.

Implementation communication system for tunnel under lake ‘Drontermeer’

The ‘Drontermeertunnel’ is a tunnel for a Dutch high speed train passing underneath the lake Drontermeer. Clear CinCom performs the measurements needed to implement not only the GSM-R network infrastructure, but also the Dutch Tetra communication system, used for emergency communication.

Design Final Cell Plan (FCP) of Hanzelijn in The Netherlands

Transform the previously created Nominal Cell Plan (NCP) into a Final Cell Plan. Performing Continuous Wave measurements, comparing these to the theoretical propagation, translating network requirements into design criteria at cell planning level and surveying selected locations to determine site parameters.

Quality of Service validation of complete GSM-R network of The Netherlands

Yearly measurements of GSM-R network performance on more than 3000 kilometre of Dutch railway, in order to ensure the Service Level Agreement (SLA) between GSM-R infrastructure supplier MobiRail and GSM-R railway operator ProRail.

Design Alternative Coverage Method

Creation of an alternative and more portable method of measuring coverage on railway tracks, without the need for a dedicated measurement train.

Traffic Research InfoPlus

Research into possible extra capacity in the GSM-R spectrum, to be used for the InfoPlus passenger information system

Network Design Using Band Repeaters

Ensure that passengers at the newly automated gates in front of the station's platform can communicate through GSM-R enabled communication pillars. This communication can be used when the gates fail, or in case of an emergency

GSM-R Radio Planning for New Coverage Areas in The Netherlands

Complete rollout of GSM-R (planning, optimisation and validation) of 15 previously unconnected, mainly industrial railways. The aim was to connect them to the central GSM-R network of the country.