History
In the area of train applications, the first analog radio communication system for trains in Germany was implemented under the TELEFUNKEN brand and also extended to early metro applications. Later, with the development of German magnetic levitation technology, TELEFUNKEN concomitantly realized the microwave radio communication system for this technology. That drew international attention to it when it was implemented in the first commercial Maglev line in Shanghai in 2003.
From 1960 to 2000
With its profound background in radio communication, soon after World
War II, the company realized the first analog train radio system
“Zugfunk 70” for the German railways. Ultimately, 17,000 locomotives
and more then 4,200 radio base stations were equipped by TELEFUNKEN.
At that time "Zugfunk 70" was a unique innovation as it even offered de facto Europe-wide compatibility in rail communication and presented the ability to communicate in different frequencies, answering the needs of cross-border transportation within Europe. "Zugfunk 70" stood the test of time even in radio-environmentally difficult areas such as mountains or tunnels.
Derivatives of “Zugfunk 70” have been used in several European countries (e.g. Hungary, Yugoslavia, Ireland, Spain, England, Austria, etc.), but also in oversea countries.
At that time "Zugfunk 70" was a unique innovation as it even offered de facto Europe-wide compatibility in rail communication and presented the ability to communicate in different frequencies, answering the needs of cross-border transportation within Europe. "Zugfunk 70" stood the test of time even in radio-environmentally difficult areas such as mountains or tunnels.
Derivatives of “Zugfunk 70” have been used in several European countries (e.g. Hungary, Yugoslavia, Ireland, Spain, England, Austria, etc.), but also in oversea countries.
Historic train radio system installation and testing at the Telefunken company
site in Ulm.
Later, this established technology was implemented
in other European train systems and – as a third radio generation in
1992 – was updated to "Zugfunk 90" in the context of the German
re-unification process. With the second radio generation
this radio system ensured uninterrupted availability, serial data
transmission with error detection, and secured emergency call
functionality.
Full radio coverage of a metro line was reached already in 1968, when TELEFUNKEN installed the first metro radio system worldwide at the Munich metro track between "Schwabing” and “Marienplatz". Later on it was used for the extended metro system in Munich that was built to serve the Olympic Games in 1980. Already in the 1980s TELEFUNKEN also performed first trials and tests with mmW-radios in the rail environment, which were the basis for its later MAGLEV and mmW radio system campaigns.
Full radio coverage of a metro line was reached already in 1968, when TELEFUNKEN installed the first metro radio system worldwide at the Munich metro track between "Schwabing” and “Marienplatz". Later on it was used for the extended metro system in Munich that was built to serve the Olympic Games in 1980. Already in the 1980s TELEFUNKEN also performed first trials and tests with mmW-radios in the rail environment, which were the basis for its later MAGLEV and mmW radio system campaigns.
Radio propagation and coverage in a tunnel of the Black Forest Mountains.
Transrapid MAGLEV test facility in Lathen, Germany:
During the development process of early magnetic levitation vehicles, Telefunken got involved in providing a radio communication system to enable full operational control. Over the years and for the “TR08” train generation TELEFUNKEN developed a new technical concept for a full duplex digital radio system with 4 Mbps data rate for fully automatic train operation (ATO) and operational voice communication simultaneously.
Successful acceptance was achieved in the year 2000. A regular passenger service and successful demonstration was established on the 30 km test track during the Expo 2000 event in Hanover, Germany. The system is still in operational use with the new TR 09 MAGLEV train. The test track is used for development purposes of the innovative MAGLEV train technology.
During the development process of early magnetic levitation vehicles, Telefunken got involved in providing a radio communication system to enable full operational control. Over the years and for the “TR08” train generation TELEFUNKEN developed a new technical concept for a full duplex digital radio system with 4 Mbps data rate for fully automatic train operation (ATO) and operational voice communication simultaneously.
Successful acceptance was achieved in the year 2000. A regular passenger service and successful demonstration was established on the 30 km test track during the Expo 2000 event in Hanover, Germany. The system is still in operational use with the new TR 09 MAGLEV train. The test track is used for development purposes of the innovative MAGLEV train technology.
Early mmW trial for railway applications with DB in Germany, about 1985.
Transrapid MAGLEV train on the track in Lathen, Germany.