Broadband  |  2025-12-02

SNCF Réseau Drives Forward 5G HSL Eurolink to Modernise Cross-Border Rail Connectivity

Source: The Critical Communications Review | Gert Jan Wolf editor

Strengthening critical communications through FRMCS across Europe’s high-speed rail corridors

NCF Réseau has formalised a major step in Europe’s rail digitalisation efforts through the signing of a grant agreement with DG Connect, via the HaDEA agency, for the 5G HSL Eurolink project. The initiative is supported by the Connecting Europe Facility 2 – Digital programme and aims to significantly enhance high-speed rail communications infrastructure between Paris and Brussels.

The 5G HSL Eurolink project will support the initial deployment of the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) and reinforce 5G connectivity along the first section of the North High-Speed Line. This development is expected to deliver improved passenger connectivity and accelerate the digital transformation of rail operations across borders.

Led by SNCF Réseau in close cooperation with Infrabel and a consortium that includes Orange and Proximus Group, the project serves as a strategic testing ground for the forthcoming transition from the ageing GSM-R network to the next-generation FRMCS standard.

The project targets two core objectives:

  • Validation of a New Shared Infrastructure Model - The initiative will examine real-world conditions for an innovative infrastructure-sharing approach between railway infrastructure managers and mobile network operators. This model aims to optimise deployment efficiency, encourage long-term collaboration, and ensure sustainable operation.
  • Comprehensive Testing of FRMCS Technologies -The consortium will conduct extensive testing—particularly in high-speed conditions—to validate FRMCS performance and determine the technical requirements needed for wider national implementation.

 

The 5G HSL Eurolink project represents a foundational milestone in Europe’s modernisation of rail communications and marks the beginning of a coordinated shift toward next-generation, resilient, and interoperable connectivity across the continent’s railway networks