Kapsch Equipes High Speed Line in Spain with Latest Train Communication Technology

Kapsch CarrierCom has successfully implemented the latest train security and communication technology on the first high speed line in the Galicia region in the northwest of Spain. Kapsch has concluded the realization of this challenging project within less than a year from the awarding of the contract.

The route between Orense and Santiago covers 87 km of tracks with 29 km of tunnels through a very mountainous area. This new line, which runs a commercial service since December 2011, reduces travel time between the two cities from 90 to 38 minutes. Moreover passengers benefit from the train security and communication technology including GSM-R, as well as the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 1 and ready for ETCS Level 2 / European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS).

Implementation of full site infrastructure

Kapsch CarrierCom has been the Base Station Subsystem (BSS) GSM-R system turnkey supplier including network design, network integration and optimization to the project. Kapsch has also supplied all site infrastructure required for the GSM-R network and for public operators to be able to provide indoor coverage to the train passengers. Apart from all site engineering the installation included all related civil and power works, construction of towers and masts, as well as radio frequency equipment and aerials. Along the track Kapsch has installed two Base Station Controllers (BSC) and TransCoder Units (TCU), 25 GSM-R Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) and 87 optical GSM-R repeaters. All site infrastructures are related to 30 BTS sites and 29 masts for GSM-R and public operator’s repeaters.