Kapsch CarrierCom in key Saudi rail project

Kapsch CarrierCom, a GSM-R specialist, has won a major project in Saudi Arabia.
Kapsch technology will in future ensure safe train operations on the 450 km high-speed line between the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
The newest technology based on ERMTS level 2 will be used on the pilgrimage route.
Kapsch was selected by Indra and Saudi Railways Organization, primarily thanks to its experience in safe system architectures and its reference projects with similarly high requirements.
The new high speed rail line from Makkah through Jeddah to Madinah will connect multiple urban regions as well as the international King Abdullah Airport.
The route features expansive stretches of desert with difficult climatic conditions and high temperature fluctuations.
In addition to the climatic and topographical challenges in construction and operation of the technical equipment along the rail line, consideration must be given to the religious and cultural significance of this route. Pilgrims from all over the world will in future travel through Saudi Arabia to the holy sites at speeds of up to 320 km/h.
Railway communication based on GSM-R technology is an important prerequisite for safe and smooth operation of this railway line.
In order to ensure this, a fail-safe architecture was designed with built in redundancy.
The network coverage along the railway line is fourfold. In other words, if three base stations in a region fail, a fourth can still serve the entire area.
The core based on the newest R4 technology provides full redundancy and will be operated at two different locations.
“We were able to win this project in particular because security, safety and expertise were key criteria, we acquired experience with similar environmental conditions in a project in Algeria and we have already equipped multiple railway stretches with similarly advanced solutions supporting ERTMS Level 2 in high speed environments,” says Michel Clement, vice-president railways of Kapsch CarrierCom.
Construction has been under way on this railway line already since 2009.
For Kapsch, the project begins in 2013.
In a first phase, the entire GSM-R infrastructure will be installed and tested.
Then Kapsch will support Indra and the prime contractor consortium for the operation and maintenance phase.
The term for the operation contract is 12 years.
Kapsch CarrierCom is a global system integrator and supplier of end-to-end telecommunications solutions for public and railway operators, urban transport organizations and companies seeking real-time asset management solutions.
By providing the full set of professional services alongside mission- and business-critical telecommunications, Kapsch CarrierCom is the trusted partner for clients around the world.
Strategic partnerships and a strong focus on innovation in eight R&D centers in Europe and Asia, make Kapsch CarrierCom a market specialist in telecommunications.
Kapsch CarrierCom is part of the Kapsch Group and has its headquarters in Vienna.