Case study
Federal Office of Transport, Switzerland
Defining an approach for introducing a national GSM-R network
The Federal Office of Transport faced a complex situation in its railway sector, as between 50 to 60 different railway companies operate currently in Switzerland. The Federal Office of Transport was working together with the biggest railway companies SBB and BLS to identify the most appropriate railway communication and signalling systems. The aim was to apply leading edge technology as well as the ‘European way’.
The fully standardised GSM-R (GSM for Railways) technology seemed to be the preferred way forward. The client asked PA Consulting Group for independent expert advice analysing all the risks involved with a national GSM-R implementation, and also identifying the interests of the many different railway companies.  PA's role included: analysing the different GSM-R operators and all existing GSM-R infrastructure and terminal vendors; general network planning based on the railway tracks to be covered within a national roll-out ; analysing, in more detail, the planning issues related to the Swiss terrain such as frequency planning at the country border; and building a cost model accounting for infrastructure as well as terminal investment and operational cost.
" PA’s work offered us more than just a theoretical recommendation but a practical blueprint for implementing the
solution, complete with costs and timescales. The assignment will benefit Swiss railway
passengers for many years to come and will help Swiss Railways to maintain its impeccable safety record while introducing faster services."
Mr Hüppi
Federal Office of Transport
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