Adif has launched a tender for a contract covering the first phase of a FRMCS pilot project including the Adaptable Communication System (ACS) communications systems, which will be carried out on the Asunción Universidad – Matallana section of the León – Guardo narrow gauge line.
The tender is estimated at EUR 6.78 million with the contract involving the execution of the works and the performance of the maintenance of the infrastructure, energy and transmission system project for the FRMCS and ACS communications systems.
Specifically, the activities included in the contract include the supply and installation of infrastructure, power lines and transmission systems, elements that are prior to the implementation of the specific FRMCS equipment, such as towers, masts, booths and cabinets for mobile telecommunications equipment, fiber optic segregations and laying, power supply system, and IP equipment.
The contract tendered develops the first phase of the task, which consists of the construction of the infrastructure necessary for the subsequent development of a pilot test section of the FRMCS system, for which the 25 km Asunción Universidad – Matallana section has been chosen.
The second phase will involve the installation of the FRMCS system itself, which will be integrated into the test programme of another new European project, FP2-MORANE-2, coordinated by the UIC and also financed by EU-Rail, in which four infrastructure managers are integrated (Adif and its counterparts from Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden) and various manufacturers. Adif’s role in this consortium is fundamental, given that in addition to the Asunción Universidad – Matallana narrow gauge line, Adif also provides the only high-speed line to the programme, the Albacete – Alicante line, for the development of the tests necessary to establish the FRMCS standard.
FRMCS will replace the current GSM-R mobile communications system, allowing railway operations to be improved by transferring the advantages of 5G to railway operations communications. In this sense, the 5G technology allows the transmission of a larger volume of data and a lower processing speed, which allows applications to be managed in real time. The current use of GSM-R is limited to voice transmission and a very limited amount of data for ERTMS.
FP2-MORANE-2 (MObile radio for RAilway Networks in Europe 2) seeks the validation of the new FRMCS standard so that it can be definitively adopted by the industry, for which it promotes the performance of tests that guarantee that the system can operate at full capacity in real conditions. This project is now underway, which will test the FRMCS technology in real conditions and show Europe’s commitment to achieving sustainable, efficient, and competitive rail transport. This innovative project is an essential component of the ERTMS, which aims to increase capacity, enhance digitalisation, and boost the competitiveness of passenger and freight rail transport in the European Union.
The FRMCS pilot project and ACS systems are part of FP 2-R2DATO, one of the six first-generation flagship projects of Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail) of which Adif is a founding member. FP2-R2DATO aims at taking a major opportunity offered by digitalisation and automation of rail operation and to develop the Next Generation ATC and deliver scalable automation in train operations, up to GoA4 for 2030, to enhance infrastructure capacity on the existing rail networks. Tangible results of FP2-R2DATO are expected to be delivered by 2025, for key enabling technologies, contributing to the required transformation of the European railway system.
Within this flagship project, Adif leads preparatory activities for the demonstration of the FRMCS system and connectivity on regional lines. This task consists of the definition, the roadmap of the requirements and the preparation of a FRMCS pilot project as an enabler for a future demonstrator.
ERTMS pilot project for low-density lines
Adif is developing another R&D&I (research, development and innovation) project on a larger section of the same line, Asunción Universidad – Guardo, which consists of the installation and testing of a new ERTMS system, specifically intended for non-main railway lines, where traffic density is moderate or low.
Adif is currently working on the implementation of the system, both at Level 1 and Level 2, and will subsequently carry out tests of the system, which is a pioneer in the European context, as it proposes the use of a train positioning system based on Galileo satellites or the use of train-ground communications networks not based on the GSM-R standard. Currently, the Spanish rail network has the largest implementation of the ERTMS system in the world, with more than 2,700 km in operation.
The system that will be tested in León is characterised by having less track equipment, which will nevertheless equal the safety performance of traditional ERTMS.
The Asunción Universidad – Guardo railway section has been selected by Adif to carry out tests and deploy cutting-edge technology in the field of railway control, command and signalling. The single-track section which has been recently equipped with new electronic interlockings, has a medium-low traffic density and a complex orography that makes the testing of all these new technologies suitable.
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