In North Sweden,the Botniabanan is a 190km long, high-speed railway line designed for trains travelling at up to 250kph passing through numerous tunnels along the way. PBE Axell provided a state-of-the-art communications system for the train operating company, emergency and rescue services.
The Botniabanan is a high-speed rail line running through Northern Sweden that covers a distance of about 190 kilometres and was built to support trains travelling at speeds of up to 250 km/h (155 mph). The line plays a crucial role in improving both passenger and freight transport by providing a faster and more efficient connection between Northern Sweden and other regions. To overcome the challenging mountainous terrain, the line features several long tunnels, some of which are among the longest in the country, providing a smoother and more direct journey. Engineered to handle both high-speed passenger and heavy freight trains, the Botniabanan incorporates advanced technology, including the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) for enhanced safety and operational efficiency. Environmental sustainability was a priority during construction, with measures like noise barriers, wildlife crossings, and energy-efficient systems put in place to minimise the ecological impact. As a result, the Botniabanan is an integral part of Sweden's transport network, supporting both eco-friendly travel and economic growth in the region.
High availability, reliable wireless DAS and coverage systems across many transport infrastructures; our equipment has been installed in over 70% of metros around the world.
The ChallengeThe challenge was to deliver a reliable, state-of-the-art communications system for both the train operating company and emergency rescue services. The Botniabanan, a high-speed railway located in Northern Sweden, spans 190 km and accommodates trains traveling at speeds of up to 250 Km/h. This line includes approximately 25 km of tunnels, making an integrated radio communications system essential during its construction. A tender was issued to meet this need.
The end customer, Botniabanan AB, required a cutting-edge communications solution for Sweden’s new high-speed railway. The system had to support both rescue organisations, such as the fire brigade, and the train operator. The chosen solution needed to be reliable and cost-effective. Additionally, it was crucial for the system to be easily supervised with a comprehensive management tool, enabling simple and efficient remote monitoring and control.
“We are immensely proud to lead the way with this new technology and provide our customers with high-bandwidth services no matter how challenging the environment. Following the successful launch of this service we will now look to expand the scope of the system to utilise the full capabilities of this technology, and shift the capacity from the base station hotel to other sites as required.”
The SolutionFollowing a successful tender process, PBE Axell was awarded the contract to supply active repeater equipment for the railway authorities using GSM-R technology, as well as for the rescue organisations using analogue technologies. The contract was awarded by Alcatel-Lucent, who held turnkey responsibility for the entire project.
Alcatel-Lucent entrusted PBE Axell with the system design for confined area coverage. Our responsibilities included the installation and commissioning of the equipment, as well as the delivery and setup of a comprehensive management system.
A total of 97 repeaters were deployed across 13 tunnels, primarily using fiber-fed repeaters to ensure seamless radio communications coverage.
Optical Master Units (OMUs) were utilised to convert RF signals from base stations into optical signals, which were then fed to the fibre-fed repeaters inside the tunnels.
The BenefitAlcatel-Lucent selected PBE Axell as their partner and subcontractor for this significant project due to our strong track record and expertise in designing systems for complex environments.
Our advanced and user-friendly supervision and management system, Active Element Manager (AEM), was already in use by the Railway Authorities, streamlining the overall solution implementation. AEM offers numerous benefits, including efficient alarm management, network optimisation, and a comprehensive, centralised view of the installed remote repeater deployment.
Scalable, reliable, and efficient network coverage, enabling large-scale deployments and seamless multi-user collaboration for enhanced performance and troubleshooting.