Radio communications in the Channel Tunnel

The Channel Tunnel railway project requires five radio systems to assist its operation. These systems have to operate in a unique environment, and operate in a mix of tunnel and terminal sites. Their design must be compatible with the architecture of the new construction project, both in terms of the fixed infrastructure and of the railway rolling stock requirements. The five radio systems used are, the Track to Train system, the Concession system, the On Train Crew system, the On Train VHF system and the UK Terminal Paging system. The author discusses the functionality required for each of the radio systems, then outlines the engineering solution for each system in terms of the architecture, operation, and design considerations