Assessment of the GSM-R susceptibility to repetitive transient disturbance

The transients produced by the pantograph electric arc and captured by a GSM-R antenna mounted on the roof top are characterized in the time domain and in the joint time–frequency domain, in order to quantify the noise produced on the GSM-R channels. The recorded signals are also characterized in order to evaluate the behavior of the GSM-R protocol in relation to burst noise with transients undergoing different repetition intervals. To this aim the GSM-R protocol is considered in particular with respect to data bit protection and for the relationship between signal-to-noise ratio, bit error rate and frame error rate, evaluated by repeated laboratory tests based on recorded transients. The measurements were performed on a 25 kV 50 Hz French railway line.

► Evaluation of time and spectral properties of electric arc e.m. transients.
► Description of GSM-R functions and operation.
► Impact of transients on GSM-R operation.
► Reverse estimation of error correcting capabilities from frame error rate.