- Hundreds of thousands of rail travellers faced delays of an hour or more on Thursday after the Global System for Mobile Communications-Railway (GSM-R) system failed.
- GSM-R is a digital communication network, rolled out between 2007 and 2014 at a cost of £1.9bn, designed for secure communication between train drivers and signallers.
- The system aims to improve safety, reduce delays, and enhance performance by replacing older, less efficient communication methods.
- A key feature of GSM-R is a 'big red button' that triggers a Railway Emergency Call, capable of halting all trains in a local area.
- Part of the GSM-R system failed in December 2024, causing widespread disruption for train operators across the country.
IN FULL
Why do train drivers need radio communication with signallers? GSM-R explained
