Steve Urwin is Nomad Digital’s Head of Strategy Deployment based in the Newcastle head office. Steve joined the company in September 2023 on an interim basis, and has extensive experience of sales and marketing in the financial services and housing sectors.
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Nomad Digital, leading specialists in transport connectivity solutions and part of the Alstom Group, is set to deliver a cutting edge, dedicated full coverage trackside network, which allows for Gigabit connectivity and high bandwidth.
In December 2022, Nomad Digital was awarded the contract by Caltrain to build a dedicated Trackside Radio Network on their newly electrified line from San Francisco to San Jose. The route serves commuters in California travelling to and from Silicon Valley with Caltrain wanting to offer fast and reliable WiFi to their passengers.
The solution uses state of the art technology to deliver broadband quality internet to the train and results in stable, reliable, Gigabit connectivity. The service officially launched this month only 21 months after Nomad Digital were awarded the contract. It is the first running solution of its kind covering a full route in North America, with Nomad Digital pushing the boundaries of connectivity on trains to support Caltrain in its ambition to deliver an unrivalled passenger experience. The deployment of this new Trackside Radio Network infrastructure will enable Caltrain to provide passengers with a high bandwidth internet experience and to support digital services through an ‘always on’ network approach, including CCTV, train monitoring, up to date Passenger Information and protected by the Nomad Secure intrusion detection system to prevent cyber security.
The challenging requirement to deliver a consistent, high performance, scalable and future proof Gigabit connectivity throughout the 51-mile electrified route, was achieved by deploying a complex solution involving 63 radio sites across 9 edge switches and Blu Wireless’ 60Ghz trackside radio. WiFi6 and Hotspot 2.0 features make the system future-proof and able to support advanced access technologies for true future proof dimensioning, ensuring that the architecture is not only relevant today but can adapt and scale to meet the demands of tomorrow.
Emmanuel Henry, Managing Director, Nomad Digital says:
“Nomad Digital is very proud to be working with Caltrain to develop an innovative connectivity solution which will support the delivery of the best possible passenger experience. We have been delighted with the results of our testing and look forward to continuing our work with Caltrain over the years. I would also like to acknowledge the outstanding collaboration between Nomad Digital and Caltrain which has enabled us to deliver this key project on time. The project is very important to us as we continue to demonstrate our expertise in pushing the boundaries of railway connectivity technology to meet the demands of our customers.”
Michelle Bouchard, Executive Director at Caltrain said:
“Our new trackside network provides the broadband that keeps our trains working at their best, while also providing our riders with a high speed WiFi connection. This is a major improvement for both the operation of our railroad and the onboard passenger experience, and is another aspect of how the future of Caltrain has arrived.”
About Nomad Digital
Nomad Digital, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alstom, is a world leading provider of passenger, fleet management and monitoring solutions to the transport industry and it is proud to serve over 40 customers around the globe.
Nomad Digital are experts in delivering high performance train to ground connectivity. This enables it to provide a range of 4 core solutions (Connect, Engage, Insight and Protect) which train builders and operators can integrate into their on board environment to improve levels of passenger satisfaction, connectivity and infotainment whilst increasing the operational efficiency of their fleet.
Nomad Digital is the pioneer of the Connected Journey – a shared and secure network infrastructure to which all authorised onboard systems and passenger devices may connect.
Nomad Digital will be showcasing its solutions at InnoTrans 24, Berlin, from 24-27 September. Come and talk to our team of experts at Hall 4.1, Stand 260 to find out more.
About Caltrain
Owned and operated by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, Caltrain provides rail service from San Francisco to San Jose, with commute service to Gilroy. Serving the region since 1863, Caltrain is the oldest continually operating rail system west of the Mississippi. Looking to the future, Caltrain is set to electrify the corridor by 2024, which will reduce diesel emissions and add more service to more stations while advancing the agency’s equity goals