Eurotunnel Upgrades Communications to GSM-R

­The UK-French rail operator, Eurotunnel has selected Alcatel-Lucent to modernize the communications infrastructure in the Channel Tunnel. Full commercial system including interoperability with on-board equipment will be ready by the end of 2012.

Alcatel-Lucent will deploy its GSM-R solution across the entire Eurotunnel network, improving voice and data communications for operations staff and enabling better service for customers. Alcatel-Lucent will also provide a set of professional services including end-to-end integration, deployment, testing and maintenance.

Jacques Gounon, chairman and chief executive officer of Eurotunnel, said: "The state of the art communications technology that we are installing in the Tunnel will help us not only to improve safety, but also to manage cross Channel traffic even more efficiently. Eurotunnel is accelerating the modernization of its infrastructure and integrating future signaling requirements in order to be able to offer a reliable service and to shape its development in a European context."

Among the important applications enabled by the new communications system are track to train radio communications between the Railway Control Centre and the train driver, and communications recording. The interoperability provided by GSM-R is vital to the project, as Eurotunnel interacts with different rail operators and numerous countries. GSM-R is a key component of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), a European standard that ensures cross-border train control and command.

The contract is worth EUR 21.5 million.

Posted to the site on 15th December 2009