Example Requirement

New rolling stock is required for expansion of a metropolitan rail network. Components in the trains are to be implemented with standards conformant protocols that facilitate a high level of interoperation, minimise duplication and provide support for fault tolerant redundancy.

The communications subsystem is required to support VoIP based passenger help points with integrated self health checking. A standards compliant protocol such as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is to be used and interoperabilty with third party SIP based compliant equipment must be supported in event that trunking calls to wayside equipment is required.

Public Address must be provided over a standard TCP⁄IP network and support wideband audio upto 22Khz for increased fidelity. The system should incorporate integrated Class-D amplifiers for driving a 100V speaker bus and should not require active cooling when operating at ambient temperatures below 60 deg centigrade. Options must be available to provide full fault tolerance such that there is no single point of failure in the PA system. Support should be provided for multiple audio zones in addition to outputs capable of directly driving inductive loop amplifiers for hearing impaired commuters.

Crew Communications is to be supported via an integrated VoIP based Crew Panel that enables crew to communicate directly as well process passenger help point calls and initiate public address announcements.

If required, the system should also be capable of directly driving RS485 based LED or LCD passenger information displays and render information as supplied by the Train Control System.

A TCP⁄IP interface providing full status and control capabilities of all components must be provided.

The NetSpire™ Solution

The NetSpire™ Integrated Communications solutions include a range of equipment and devices suitable for deployment on rollingstock – designed and tested with vibration and power considerations in mind.

Each driver’s car will contain a console that allows the train staff to carry out the following operations: <⁄h1>

• Make and receive Help Point calls
• Make and receive Crew Intercom calls to the other driver’s car
• Make live Public Address announcements to any combination of the train’s cars

Each passenger car contains 6 VoIP based Help Points with touch sensitive button for call initiation.  Calls are directed to each driver’s car.

Open Access’ NetSpire™ Integrated Communications system provides the authorities with the ability to both make live public address announcements (Long Line Public Address) and initiate pre-recorded announcements (Digital Voice Announcement) throughout Sydney CBD.  Centralised operators can use their GUI consoles to administer and manage the system, as well as make and schedule announcements to any combination of selected speakers within the system.  The VoIP technology used to provide these features ensures CD quality announcements even over the wireless network.