Radio Spectrum Services

Creating a Safer and More Efficient Rail System

In order to use the radio spectrum for wireless telecommunications, it is divided into multiple frequency bands; some bands are best suited for rail communications, while others are used for cellphones, television, and satellite communication.

The railway industry primarily uses the very high frequency (VHF) spectrum—the 1.41 MHz of spectrum between 160.1700 and 161.5800 MHz—for voice communications. But other frequencies on the radio spectrum are used for other essential rail operations: the in-yard remote control of locomotives, the verification of crossings and switches, and the automatic identification of railcars across the North American network, among others.

The Canadian government regulates the use of the railway radio spectrum, while the Railway Association of Canada (RAC) manages its use and its coordination with railways in the United States. In 2000, Industry Canada issued RAC a single spectrum licence for Canada’s freight and passenger railways. This has reduced the administrative burden on both governments and railways. It has also allowed Canada’s rail industry to play a more active role in the expansion and deployment of its radio communications network—a network that is essential for the operation of safe and efficient railways from coast to coast.

Resources

• Canadian Rail Communication: Beyond 2020
• Secondary Markets for Spectrum
• Shared Radio Access Network Architecture for Mission Critical Applications
• International Perspective – Broadband Access for Railways & Utilities
• Centre for Security Science – Wireless Activity
• PVNO for Critical Infrastructure – Reliability and Security
• Exploring PSBN in Electric Utilities
• Mission Critical LTE Solutions