GSM-R is on its way out. FRMCS — the 5G-based successor for railway radio communications — is on its way in. But the migration from one to the other is anything but straightforward.

In this episode, Doc Frank talks to Rob van Looveren from the Netherlands, a railway consultant with hands-on experience in FRMCS specification work for freight trains through the European-funded FENIX project. Together they unpack what the migration from GSM-R to FRMCS actually involves: the technical challenges, the planning complexity, the freight operator funding dilemma, and why a bistandard onboard approach is likely the only migration strategy that really works.

The Netherlands context provides a useful European lens — and the comparison with Australia's situation turns out to be more interesting than you might expect.

If you find this episode useful, the best thing you can do is subscribe, share it with colleagues, and leave a comment. It costs nothing and makes a real difference.

When it comes to advancing your understanding of modern train control technologies, nothing beats world-class training. I've partnered with Informa Connect Academy to create what I believe is the most comprehensive portfolio of online training courses in advanced signalling available anywhere. Find out more here: https://informaconnect.com/academy/rail/