Rail Sector Transformation Programme Consultation

See Wray Castle's submission to the Rail Sector Transformation Programme Consultation

Founded in 1958, Wray Castle is a leading provider of professional services to the telecommunications industry globally. We serve both public operators, for example Vodafone Group, or operators of private telecommunications networks such as Network Rail for their GSM-R network. We are based in Kendal, Cumbria, therefore many of our staff are also interested members of the traveling public.

In June 2023, the Paris based International Union of Railways (UIC.org) announced a partnership with Wray Castle, whereby we power the “UIC Academy” which offers training to UIC members (rail infrastructure managers & Rail Operators) worldwide1. The ‘UIC Academy : Rail Section’ comprises Wray Castle’s training material covering GSM-R (rail to trackside radio communications), ERTMS/ETCS (digital signalling & radio communications) and FRMCS (Future Railways Mobile Communications System, 5G replacement for 2G GSM-R)2.

We work closely with the UIC to help shape the Digital Railway of the future, the cornerstone of which is a new digital communications system based on 5G technology called FRMCS (Future Railway Mobile Communications System) which will replace the existing 2G based GSM-R system. GSM-R has provided many decades of reliable service; however, it is based on old 2G technology which is soon to be turned off in the UK and many other countries. Although cost estimates vary, the European Commission has accepted that this technology refresh is a top-3 capital spend item for rail over the coming decade; likely to cost between £1-2 billion in the UK.

We are pleased to see the six objectives for GBR, and we consider that the upgrade from GSM-R to FRMCS will, if delivered effectively, directly contribute towards achieving ALL six objectives, namely: Reliability, Affordability, Efficiency, Quality, Accessibility and Safety.

We would like to take this opportunity to highlight at the highest possible level within Government our view of the critical drivers for “effective” delivery of this multi-billion infrastructure upgrade. We believe that our comments largely relate to Question 3 of the consultation.

AFFORDABILITY

The deployment of a major new rail communications upgrade should be viewed as a profit centre within Rail Infrastructure Managers. For example, as part of their upgrade, radio cell sites should be upgraded to enable the hosting of public mobile operators, the rental from which contributes to the profit centre. Furthermore, the travelling public still feels that public mobile service on the rail network is very poor.

An innovative approach, that would mark the UK out as a world leader, pioneer and innovator would be to license a new spectrum holding public mobile operator providing service alongside the UK’s rail network. Such an operation would be privately funded and would subsidise the capital investment required to update the rail network’s physical infrastructure in readiness for FRMCS. Such an operator could sell seat-side mobile coverage to travelling passengers, or bulk national roaming to existing public mobile operators for them to provide to their customers.

We call upon the Secretary of State for Transport to work closely with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation & Technology to ensure that any investment in rail communications infrastructure delivers significantly improved connectivity for the travelling public, including the possibility of licensing a new, spectrum holding, public mobile operator solely to provide rail coverage.

EFFICIENCY

The travelling public does not understand why connectivity is so poor when they travel by rail. Many people, particularly those on longer journeys work whilst travelling. Few such travellers experience good connectivity along the majority of their journey. Improving connectivity will surely be a popular policy outcome if implemented correctly & efficiently. The travelling public will not however understand a multi-billion investment in rail communications which doesn’t improve their connectivity.

To be very clear, the multi-billion investment in FRMCS in itself, does nothing for passenger connectivity. It’s purely a replacement for GSM-R. That’s why we call for smart joined up thinking for the benefit of the travelling public.

Should you find this contribution of interest and wish to find out more, we have published various white papers on the topic of FRMCS and specifically on the topic of Financing the transition from GSM-R to FRRMCS, please visit www.wraycastle.com, contact info@wraycastle.com or call 01539 742 742.

Yours faithfully,

Andrew White

Andrew White M.Eng C.Eng MBA(LBS) FIET