Considerations for the Deployment of Communications for Commuter Railroad Positive Train Control Systems

The design of communications infrastructure, required to support mandated Positive Train Control systems, has not been given prominent attention with regard to and support of large-scale public rail systems in high density areas and heavily used rail corridors. Required Federal deployment timeframes have necessitated fast track strategies for all PTC systems one of which is communications technology. Essential communications systems requirements for PTC deployment include RF spectrum and data radio systems. This paper reviews the detailed analysis of spectrum availability and selection issues and the requirements of radio systems to fulfill PTC deployment in an urban and regional environment. This includes the use of risk assessment methodologies, radio options analysis and the determination of spectrum requirements based on accepted design criteria for land/mobile UHF/VHF design.