200907 – Taylor – GSM-R – What is it and Where Does it Come From?

GSM-R is the European standard for rail communications and is rapidly becoming the base standard for Global rail communications. GSM-R Communications systems are being implemented in many European, Middle Eastern and Pacific Countries. So what is GMS-R and where does it come from?

This paper will review the history of the system and the underpinning standards that have been created, examine the major sub systems and how they integrate to provide a digital communications system for the rail industry and review some of the functionality that adds the R to the GSM.