iTrain

The project iTrain aims at a technically innovative and commercially attractive integrated solution for train on board information, entertainment and communication services, which are considered as an essential part of a future Intelligent Transport System (ITS) for trains. The main focus of iTrain is on the train-to-ground access, connecting the train with the ground infrastructure.

• Intelligent use of information technology on trains
• Integrated solution
• Innovative approach
• IP-based

Today's train's communication systems are limited, mainly in terms of bandwidth, availability, and service quality. The key issues and scientific challenges for communications in a high-speed mobile environment are the provision of sufficient bandwidth requiring fast mobility management and efficient handover mechanisms, eventually benefiting form the predictability of the train location. The investigation of intelligent concepts for scheduling and cooperative communications is required.

• Identify the technical requirements of train-to-ground communication systems for operator and passenger on-board services.
• Investigate and characterise the propagation channel of the train-to-ground access segment. Dedicated field measurements will be carried out in a real environment.
• Select a set of potential candidate technologies for the iTrain train-to-ground access segment with respect to present availability and future deployment plans, and their expected performance in the train environment.
• Propose an architecture for an integrated and versatile train-to-ground communications system.
• Investigate and develop intelligent concepts for hand-over, access selection and load balancing. Fast mobility management will be key issues for Wi-Fi and WiMAX-based solutions in a high-speed mobile environment.
• Design and realise an iTrain demonstrator in order to show how such an ITS communications platform could be built, to validate and demonstrate the proposed iTrain concept in a real environment, and to gain practical know-how and experience for on-board installation and deployment of iTrain systems.
• Conduct field trials and to process and evaluate the trial results.