Launch of new train radio system
Launch of new train radio system The National Rail Administration and Siemens today put a call through on the new Swedish International Radio - or SIR for short - system for railways in conjunction with the GSM-R Conference in Stockholm. The SIR system will gradually replace all six existing systems for railway communication. The International Union of Railways (IUR) decided in 1992 to develop a specification for a joint radio communication system. This system was to be suitable for all radio communications on the railways in Europe. The SIR system represents the National Rail Administration's adaptation to this specification, and is the world's first system of its kind. The system was developed in cooperation with Siemens, after a contract was signed in June 1998. - The main purpose of introducing a new radio system is to enable locomotives to run across national borders in Europe without the need for changing the radio communication system, says Håkan Romlin, Project Leader at the National Rail Administration. This will also simplify the transport of goods by rail through Europe. In the long term, the SIR system will replace all six existing systems for railway communication. Replaces all existing systems The system will be taken into service in the year 2000, and is expected to be fully expanded no later than the year 2003. - We are well on the way to implementing the SIR system, says Ola Bergman, Project Leader at Siemens. Around 80 out of a total of 255 base stations in stage 1 and all central sub-systems, with one exception, have been commissioned. The exception is the General Packet Radio System, known as GPRS, which will be delivered next winter. For general information on the National Rail Administration, please visit www.banverket.se (The National Rail Administration home page includes a picture of Håkan Romlin, as he is making the first call on the new system. Adress: www.banverket.se/aktuellt/pressmeddelanden General information on Siemens: www.siemens.com, or: www.siemens.de/ic/networks/ca.new/welcome/index.htm Further information: Håkan Romlin, Project Leader at the National Rail Administration Phone: +46 243 445704 (direct line) Mobile: +46 70 7245704 Ola Bergman, Project Leader at Siemens Communications Phone: +46 8 7281439 Mobile: +46 70 7281439 ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/06/22/19990617BIT00210/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/06/22/19990617BIT00210/bit0002.pdf