[TrunkCom] RE: Union Pacific Trunking

[Ron Wilbanks]

"Matthew C. Payne" wrote:

> Actually sounds quite feasible to me.  We have several railroads around
> Indianapolis that use repeaters.  Most railroad repeaters that I am aware
> of use AAR channels for both input and output.  Since most railroads have
> to share the same channels, and there are only a finite number available,
> I would think that implementing trunking of some sort would be an
> attractive option.

According to Norfolk Southern, they have a trunked system in operation in
Birmingham, Alabama at their main yard facility.  The system is a Motorola
ASTRO TRS and has been well liked since its implementation in 1998.  I wonder
if anyone in the Birmingham area can search out the frequencies?
Various workers at the yard have talkgroups they can use for a variety of
operations.

>
>
> One of the railroads nearby also has a license for several 900mhz
> channels.  I've never heard these active, though.  If I am not mistaken,
> the license seemed to indicate it was for a trunked system.  I assume it
> is either extremely low profile, or reserved for future use.

CSXT, has a similar TRS licensed for here in Plymouth, Michigan in the 900 MHz
band.  I have not heard any activity on it but I haven't tried to listen to it
in over the last two years.

>
>
> I also heard plans several years ago of a national railroad trunked radio
> service, but have heard nothing lately.  It might make listening to trains
> more interesting, though!

Yes it would.  I do know that there is a movement to narrowband the AAR
Railroad channels from their present 15 KHz spacing to 7.5 KHz spacing very
soon.  This would double the number of frequencies available for railroad
usage.  The newer radios that have been purchased from Motorola by CSXT and NS
are ready for switchover, when they decide to move forward with the
narrowbanding project.  I do know that NS, CSXT, BNSF and the UP are
experimenting with Motorola ASTRO technology in the conventional non-trunking
mode.  However, NS and UP seem to like the idea of digital trunking
technology.


73's

Ron