Introducing TerraBridge – inter-carriage and data offload solution for trains

Most wireless solutions available for inter-carriage rail connectivity and data offload are limited in throughput, spectrum availability, interference, and complexity. To address this, RADWIN used its years of wireless expertise and understanding of the transportation marketplace to develop a breakthrough solution – TerraBridge – that is uniquely designed to address train operators’ demands for ultra-high capacity. TerraBridge is an mmWave 5G era solution, specifically designed for the railway industry to support high-speed inter-carriage connectivity and data offload from trains.

RADWIN’s TerraBridge is a 60GHz60GHz is a form of wireless communication in the 60GHz band.... More millimetre-wave point-to-point radio that enables transmission of more than 1.5Gbps of data traffic. By using TerraBridge for an inter-carriage connection, train operators can easily create an end-to-end gigabit Ethernet network across the train, connecting carriages for any required application. TerraBridge seamlessly adapts to dynamic train composition scenarios, ensuring operational efficiency, ease of use, and unparalleled flexibility. The TerraBridge solution offers a superior alternative to mechanical couplers with minimal hassle installation and no wear and tear over time, which is typical of mechanical components.

TerraBridge can also be used to support high-speed data offload and upload when trains stop in the station or park in the depot.

The TerraBridge solution incorporates the radio and antenna into a single unit that is much smaller than any other comparable Wi-Fi solution in the market. Thanks to its extremely small footprint, TerraBridge can be easily installed between train carriages, and the software has auto-connect functionality to support dynamic carriage composition for data offload scenarios. It can be installed also in stations or depots to establish data rates of over one gigabit per second to the train.

The solution is fully railway certified, including an IP69K rating – the highest rating on the Ingress Protection (IP) scale, signifying a product’s ability to withstand dust and high-pressure, high-temperature water jets. TerraBridge is very easy to install and set up with practically zero maintenance requirements.

Overall, TerraBridge offers a significantly better alternative to Wi-Fi products operating in 2.4 or 5GHz bands. It provides substantially higher throughput of over 1 gigabit in actual field condition. It is also not sensitive to interferences from other Wi-Fi systems that may be operating in the same location.

TerraBridge highlights

• 5G speeds based on the 60GHz60GHz is a form of wireless communication in the 60GHz band.... More millimetre-wave, license free spectrum
• 1.5 Gbps throughput
• Uniquely designed for railway applications
• Minimal footprint (hand-sized), low weight, low visual impact
• Minimal setup and configuration
• Supports dynamic carriage composition
• Ideal for short range connectivity
• Easy to install, with zero maintenance

Wireless inter-carriage link

RADWIN TerraBridge provides continuous high-speed connectivity between train carriages and is an exceptional 60GHz60GHz is a form of wireless communication in the 60GHz band.... More mmWave wireless connectivityWireless connectivity is a method of network connectivity fo... More solution that ensures operational efficiency, ease of use and unparalleled flexibility when looking to upgrade onboard networks for trains.

Other existing inter-carriage connectivity options available have various limitations. For example, mechanical couplers may be bandwidth limited and provide no simple upgrade option; dynamic train carriage composition causes high wear and tear to mechanical couplers, increasing maintenance costs; wireless solutions based on the 2.4 and 5GHz Wi-Fi spectrum are sensitive to interference from other onboard and in-station wireless access points; plus, other wireless solutions also include multiple components (radios, cables, and antennasAntennas are used as an interface between radios to transmit... More) that can be cumbersome to install and maintain.

Data offload at stations and depots

Allowing optimal data flow between train’s systems and the stations/depot is essential to efficiently carry out preventive maintenance, increase public safety and real-time passenger information. TerraBridge enables automatic, high capacity connectivity to the train as soon as it arrives at the station or terminates its journey at the depot, providing ultra-high throughput of over 1.5Gbps for data offload.

Trains today are equipped with numerous CCTV cameras and sensors to continuously record onboard data, which is used to enhance safety and operations. The amount of data recorded on trains can accumulate over a single day into terabytes, therefore needing frequent and fast offload, either when trains arrive at the station or park in the depot.

In addition, passenger information systems (PIS) and onboard multimedia systems require frequent updating and uploading of new data to the trains.

Existing wireless offload solutions available today are limited by, for example, insufficient throughput to address the quantity of data requiring offloading, especially when considering limited instances to connect; limited spectrum in the 5 GHzGHz stands for gigahertz and is a unit of frequency in the I... More / 2.4 GHzGHz stands for gigahertz and is a unit of frequency in the I... More bands prevents effective connectivity when multiple trains are parked in the depot; plus, interference from other Wi-Fi systems operating in the same bands can degrade offload performance.

RADWIN’s TerraBridge enables automatic, high capacity connectivity to the train as soon as it arrives at the station or terminates its journey when reaching the depot. TerraBridge’s small footprint and auto-connect functionality make it an ideal solution for upgrading stations and depots to high speed data offload spots. Designed to operate in tough environments, alongside IP69k rating and practically zero maintenance requirements, TerraBridge enables train operators to migrate to 5G speeds with minimal cost requirements.

TerraBridge for the UK rail industry

Cogent Distribution is the UK’s major distributor for wireless communications manufacturer RADWIN. We supply RADWIN’s cutting-edge TerraBridge wireless connectivity solution to support the needs of train manufacturers and train operators, either whilst on-the-move, or in the station or depot. As a trusted stock-holding partner to resellersA telecommunications reseller or value-added reseller (VAR) ... More, system integratorsSystem integrators (or systems integrators) working in the f... More, manufacturers, and enterprises, we have trained technical support staff to assist in solutions design and guidance with installation. Contact us today to find out what TerraBridge can do for your inter-carriage and data offload/upload requirements.