World renowned IT networking hardware company Cisco is coming to a rail line near you.
One of its early initiatives in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), ‘Connected Rail’, is now ready to “modernise” the way railways around the world work, including its passenger services.
In the future, railway operators will need to adopt multifunction IP communications networks across their rail systems in the interest of passenger safety and greater efficiency. So how do they achieve that?
This is where Connected Rail will comes in, says Cisco. This is a set of reference architectures, network designs, Cisco and third-party network products and its own services for rail transportation owners and operators. The solutions can be deployed onboard trains, trackside, and in stations to achieve a range of safety, mobility, and efficiency objectives.
Here’s what the Connected Rail solutions, says Cisco, will enable rail operators to do:
- Integrate aging, proprietary networks onto a highly reliable
- Interoperable IP network
With one connected network, rail operators can boost passenger safety while slashing network cost and complexity. They can also team with service providers to deliver new high-speed voice, video, and data services to passengers, says Cisco.
Operational objectives include:
- Keep passengers and employees safe
- Provide onboard passenger WiFi, entertainment, live scheduling, high-speed voice and video
- Converge multiple networks into a single IP network for greater interoperability
- improved communications, simplified management, and lower costs
- Meet governmental and industrial safety compliance requirements
The Connected Rail is part of Cisco’s Transportation Smart Solution (TSS).
The Cisco Connected Rail architecture contains validated network designs for Cisco Connected Train, Connected Trackside, Connected Stations, and Positive Train Control solutions. Validated designs support network interoperability through proven, well-established technologies to maximise implementation success.
• Cisco Connected Train
This solution includes an onboard, high-speed, wired and wireless IP network. It supports passenger services and operations applications for main line and metro rail.
• Cisco Connected Trackside
This solution replaces multiple, older proprietary railway networks with a Cisco Unified MPLS Mobile Transport (UMMT) network. It is a single IP network that supports operational services while reducing cost and complexity. Intelligent video surveillance systems increase safety and security for passengers and rail employees.
• Connected Station
This Connected Rail component integrates multiple in-station networks and retail
communication systems to a standards-based IP network.
• Positive Train Control
Cisco Positive Train Control is the industry’s first end-to-end rail communications network that complies with U.S. Rail Safety Improvement Act requirements. It integrates onboard, trackside, wayside, signaling, and back-office systems and is designed to help prevent train collisions, derailments and other human caused rail accidents.
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Image Credit: Cisco
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