PTC Compliance for Railway Operations
RELIABLE AND RUGGED RAILWAY COMMUNICATIONSWhile every rail service hopes to ensure riders enjoy the most pleasant travel experience possible, their foremost mission is to provide the safest riding experience and environment possible. In recent years, tragic accidents have called attention to the need to ensure that safety remains one of the fundamental principles of the transit industry. Nationwide, commuter rail services are establishing a safety-first culture for riders and employees alike.
Business Needs
Mobile Railcar and Locomotive Connectivity
One of the key initiatives to achieving the goal of a safety-first culture has been compliance with the congressional mandates for railways to implement Positive Train Control (PTC) - a sophisticated train-signaling system designed to prevent crashes, derailments and track worker injuries resulting from speed and signal violations. With PTC in place, connected equipment monitors and controls train movements and speeds, preventing the train from moving until on-board equipment receives a positive indication that it is safe to travel from a centralized dispatching authority.
Transit authorities need the best, toughest, and most reliable connectivity devices possible to ensure these vital communications never fail.
Solution Overview
Rugged Digi Cellular Routers and Mobile Mark Antennas
Many commuter rail systems in the US are achieving PTC compliance. And a key factor in this achievement is their decision to deploy WR44-RR cellular routers from Digi International. PTC message routing and wireless communications are made possible by using Mobile Communications Packages (MCP) - integrated drop-in assemblies that can house the WR44 RR, a 220 MHz TDMA radio, power supply, and RF filters. The WR44 RR is the choice communications hub for all locomotives, relaying PTC data messages to and from waysides via 220 MHz radio while enabling remote maintenance, configuration, and network management over a cellular link. And when connected to an LTMG502 antenna from Mobile Mark, signal strength and reliability - both wired and wireless - are greatly enhanced.
Digi TransPort WR44 RR provides a reliable primary high speed cellular network connection or can act as a secure backup connection to the existing railroad network. It features a flexible communications design with 3G/4G multicarrier cellular, plus integrated Wi-Fi ac/b/g/n; a/n access point, serial and 4-port Ethernet switch. It also features full on-board train certifications, including AAR S-9401 and EN50155. Communications interfaces include hardened connectors, including M12 for Ethernet and serial, as well as TNC connectors for antenna connections.
The LTMG502 (2x 4G/5G Cellular, 2x WiFi, GNSS) was designed to cover all Cellular frequencies worldwide. This Global LTE ready antenna covers 694-960 & 1710-3700 MHz. Because the Cellular antenna elements cover up to 3.7 GHz, this antenna can also be used for CBRS private networks. The LTMG502 can be mounted in a fixed location, or can be mounted on any mobile vehicle including cars, trucks, or buses with multiple mounting configurations
Benefits Observed
Improved Railway Management and Safety
Our Team
Device Provisioning, Activation and Installation Services
For over 25 years USAT has provided expert M2M and IoT connectivity solutions to transit authorities nationwide. We provide top-tier support for all aspects of your mission-critical fixed and mobile communications projects. The solutions engineers we employ configure, provision, kit, and ship all your devices hot and ready for immediate use. And when you utilize our installation services, our technicians ensure each device is functioning securely, reliably, and at peak performance on ultra-fast network carriers like Verizon.
The Download
Save Solution for Later or Share It With Colleagues
If you'd like to reflect back on this railway solution or share it with colleagues, we've included a simple download of this article in a PDF format. Just click below to view it as a PDF and then click save.
Contact Us
Reach Out The Team at USAT to Engineer Your Railway Data Solution Today
Click an image below to give us a call, send us an email, fill out a contact form, or make a purchase directly on our website.
Send an Email
Fill Out a Form
Shop Online
Recommended Devices for PTC Data Communications
Click an Image Below to Start Shopping Online
Digi WR44 RR
WR44 RR Accessory Kit
Mobile Mark LTMG502
Additional Reading
Check Out Other Recent Articles, Use Cases, and Case Studies
Digi TX64 routers are being deployed to upgrade public transit vehicles with top of the line 5G and 4G connectivity for POS, Video, and CAD systems.
Smart Traffic Management
State and local traffic management agencies are installing Digi Routers throughout city infrastructures to improve the intelligence of their operations.
Share this Post
