Post #3665214
2026-07-08 05:51 UTC
Telstra took down regional and freight train services across Australia this morning, because they use the Telstra network for train radio.
But why do V/Line, NSW TrainLink and freight trains on the ARTC network all use Telstra for their radio interface? Well, because in the early 21st century, you needed no less than 6 radios in the cab of a locomotive talking to up to 14 different radio networks in order to go from Brisbane to Perth via Melbourne, and that was really annoying: (🧵)
(Photo: Rod Williams https://www.railpictures.net/photo/217873/ )
Replies (2)
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@ThermiteBeGiants@aus.social 2026-07-08 05:51
To rectify this very silly situation Australian governments and the different railways that they owned collectively agreed to standardise on the National Train Communications System train radio system, originally rolled out by Federal Government-owned railway company ARTC, to replace the existing mix of analogue and digital train radios used in Australia. This consists of a set of standard radio network interfaces and a common “In Cab Equipment” (ICE) radio unit fitted to, as you might guess, every locomotive/train cab. One radio to rule them all… and in the darkness bind them. (cont)
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@peterrenshaw@ioc.exchange 2026-07-08 06:17
@ThermiteBeGiants@aus.social Comms is the new gauge. Long live the standard Comms and gauge.