GSM-R "Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway" a device for communicating across railways (bruh that sounds like something a 5 year old said) A sub-system of European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), it is used for communication between train and railway regulation control centers. The system is based on GSM and EIRENE – MORANE specifications which guarantee performance at speeds up to 500 km/h (310 mph), without any communication loss. - Wikipedia
oh look at this, the hyperlinks got carried over anyways here's more to read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM-R you can also use it in TSW when using the ICE 1 Enhancement Pack in TSW3 (unfortunately doesn't work in 4)
We use handheld versions of them in the tunnels on the Elizabeth Line because there is obviously no phone signal. Whatever you do don't accidentally push the red button lol.
The UK version of the GSM-R terminal looks different, but it does essentially the same things. It's easy to identify by the large red and yellow buttons on the left. Usually the display has a blue tint. Its main purpose is to provide "secure" radio communications between the train and the signalbox (and Control). There are a couple of shortcut buttons for common or emergency communications - those are the red and yellow ones. Red means "something bad just happened or is in the process of happening, and all trains need to stop for safety" - it gets broadcasted to all trains within a certain distance without further human intervention. Yellow means "I'm stuck waiting at a red signal, make sure you haven't forgotten about me", and the terminal in the signalbox has a similar shortcut button for replying "I haven't forgotten, just wait for the signal to clear".
As noted above, it's the "panic everybody stop NOW" button. I can imagine it's more troublesome on a handheld unit than one fixed to the cab wall.
If anyone is interested, Dad Rail made a 2-part series about GSM-R: I found it very interesting, but I think this video is most relevant here.
Not only will it stop all trains, pressing that button will send an emergency message to every single signaller (rail operations centre) in the country.
In the country? Wow! Why would the signallers for the Great Western Mainline need to know about an emergency on the Far North Line? Isn't it just neighbouring signalling centres, or have I got that wrong?
Imagine : -"Here 801 034 I passed a red signal at 125 near Leeds" "everyone stop !" -"Sir this is Slough"
I'm pretty new to the business but my manager said everyone in the country receives it. I may have misinterpreted him though. I think if there was an emergency on the Elizabeth Line, the guys in Leeds obviously wouldn't have to do anything about it but they would still know about it through the GSM-R. I haven't been able to play with the red button just yet so please do correct me...
I imagine in the security concious world we live in now if two trains in completely different parts of the country had problems it would be better if everyone knew about it rather than continued to operate in blinkered isolation.
You'd be amazed what impact a train being late in one part of the country has to things going on in somewhere entirely different! The knockons are incredible, so knowing that something has happened just makes everyone forewarned and ready for late running things later on. Matt.
According to the video linked above, the message goes to all trains and the associated signalboxes for the cell you're in and all immediately adjacent cells. So not the whole country, but an area perhaps a dozen miles across. I think that's reasonable.
Yeah. I find it hard to believe that emergencies need to be transmitted across all signalling centres. Especially given that trains seemed to run reasonably well on the south of England while all of Scotland was flooded, and all the trains were cancelled! This seems much more reasonable.
I believe far north line don't use gsmr. Instead they use RETB. A token system where they have direct contact with the signaller after passing bits of the route with double track, so they can get permission to proceed.
Oh Damn it! That's really interesting. Is it not part of the National Rail Network? Is it not the case that the entire network needs GSM-R now? I couldn't think of any lines that were far away from the GWML. I just searched on Google "North Highland Line" because I heard that somewhere, and it returned the "Far North Line". It seemed to work - miles away from the south, has Scotrail trains on it so it isn't a heritage line... AND IT DOESN'T EVEN USE GSM-R!
I think it's maybe something to do with the track. On this particular line is is single, with passing loops in sections. It's also pretty isolated from the network, except at Inverness (I think?)
All the trains that run on that line are equipped with gsmr for other routes but I believe when they are on that route they only use RETB to contact the signaller which is basically a private contact between the driver and the signaller.
Yea, RETB was basically built for single track lines with passing loops. Other lines it is in use in is the: West Highland Line Far North Line Kyle of lochalsh line Ayr to Stranraer Line East Suffolk Line Cambrian Line
Unless things have changed, GSM-R emergency will go to the controlling signaller, also listen in to the appropriate NR Control. Normally preceded by an alarm that was set up at Swindon to sound like Star Trek Red Alert. Not sure if it also repeats to trains within a certain area, but in the case of something like a fatality the signaller would immediately broadcast an all trains stop message. The Control would then take over the big picture, organising any response to the incident with Train Running Controllers getting the block on with adjacent areas and Zones to stop trains approaching and stood with nowhere to go.
