Stay Online, Stay Productive, Stay Entertained

Rail passengers today expect constant Internet access and infotainment onboard trains to remain productive and entertained at all times. However, railway operators need to overcome the challenges of onboard vibrations, shock, and electrical noise in order to deliver seamless device connectivity and network reliability while on the move.


With over 500 successful deployments in the railway industry, Moxa specializes in rail solutions that integrate a full Gigabit backbone with wireless broadband and 4G LTE connectivity to support onboard Internet access for passengers to work or relax.


As an IRIS certified company, Moxa's solutions include a wide range of rail-ready networking products that allow passengers to stay connected and entertained throughout their journey.

White Paper

Implementing Passenger Wi-Fi Networks: Five Key Considerations

Onboard Passenger Infotainment

  • Wireless Broadband

    Passengers can move around freely without losing Internet access because the AWK-3131A-M12-RCC wireless access points provide connection speeds of up to 300 Mbps.

  • Full-GbE Backbone

    The TN-G6512 switch has 12 Gigabit ports to meet the increasing bandwidth requirements of passenger services and to enhance operational efficiency.

  • Seamless Mobility

    UC-8580/UC-8540 computers feature GPS, multiple dual-SIM card slots, and intelligent WAN routing that includes Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity, to ensure seamless train-to-ground communications.

  • Media Servers

    Powered by an Intel® Core™ processor, the V2400A Series is ideally suited for streaming on-demand video infotainment.

Broadband Wi-Fi Access

Moxa’s AWK-3131A-M12-RCC 802.11n access points provide onboard wireless Internet to passengers, supporting up to 60 device connections with 2 Mbps connections to provide a superior multimedia experience.


The AWK-RCC Series supports wireless client isolation through packet filtering to disable communications between Wi-Fi clients associated to access points. This provides an added layer of protection against passengers gaining access to other devices for malicious purposes.


To ensure reliable connectivity, the AWK-RCC Series Wi-Fi access points are equipped with M12 and QMA connectors, and are designed in accordance with the mandatory sections of the EN 50155 standard to withstand vibrations, shock, and electrical noise on moving trains.

Benefits

  • Wi-Fi access with connection speeds of up to 300 Mbps
  • Connect up to 60 concurrent devices per access point
  • Reliability ensured by anti-vibration connectors, dual power inputs, and dual isolation on power and antenna inputs


Full-Gigabit Train Backbone

Higher bandwidth supports faster communications and more passenger services. The compact TN-G6512 switches have 12 Gigabit ports, 8 of which can supply PoE+, to facilitate a full-Gigabit backbone infrastructure that makes it easy to integrate more multimedia applications and PoE devices in space-limited train car environments.


TN-G6512 switches come with millisecond-level redundancy and are designed in accordance with the EN 50155 standard to provide protection against vibrations, surges, and EMS to guarantee availability and reliability for train backbone operations.

Benefits

  • Full Gigabit speeds
  • Compact size for easy installation
  • 8-port PoE switches to simplify connection of PoE powered devices
  • Network recovery time under 50 ms
  • Reliability ensured by push-pull M12 connectors and an IP67-rated enclosure
  • Cybersecurity features based on the IEC 62443 standard


Seamless Train-to-Ground Communications

Passengers can use their laptops and handheld devices to keep in touch with their friends, family, and office with reliable onboard communications provided by the Moxa UC-8580/UC-8540 gateway computers, which include GPS and dynamic routing for seamless connectivity over Wi-Fi and 4G LTE for train-to-ground communications.


Based on MIRF 2.0 (Mobile Intelligent Routing Framework) firmware, the dynamic routing feature enables switching between WANs, ISPs, and telecom carriers as the train travels through different regions.


Both computers support VLAN and VRRP for network load sharing. VRRP also enables master/backup router switchover for redundant connectivity.

Benefits

  • Built-in GPS, Wi-Fi, and multiple 4G LTE modules for versatile Internet connectivity
  • Optimize WAN connectivity through dynamic routing
  • Dual-SIM support for each 4G LTE module to prevent downtime if one SIM in a module fails
  • Compact and single-sided I/O wiring for easy installation
  • Anti-vibration M12 connectors for increased reliability


Media Servers

The V2406A computers are media servers that are specifically designed for the rail industry that support high-speed downloads for on-demand entertainment services.


The compact and robust computers come with 1 SATA connector/slot, 2 CFast sockets, and dual Gigabit ports to store and transmit large amounts of multimedia data for onboard infotainment.


Benefit

  • 2 x HDD/SSD expansion slots for multimedia storage
  • Anti-vibration M12 connectors for increased reliability


Improving Onboard Wi-Fi to Enhance Passenger Satisfaction

Onboard Wi-Fi access while traveling has become key to increasing ridership for rail and metro operators. One of the biggest challenges to providing sufficient bandwidth for passengers is the complexity of retrofitting existing trains with interoperable network infrastructure. Moxa has over 400 rail-proven products to enable full Ethernet communications onboard moving railcars, which allow passengers to remain productive and entertained throughout their entire journey.


System Requirements

  • Stable Wi-Fi connectivity
  • Sufficient bandwidth for high-speed Internet access
  • Simplified network maintenance to handle daily inter-car and inter-consist changes
  • Easy, flexible, and reliable routing across various locations and IP service carriers
  • Durable devices and reliable network connectivity help ensure reliable operations
  • Compact size that fits into the space-limited environments on trains

Moxa’s Solutions

Most passenger Wi-Fi systems are developed on a case-by-case basis and tailored to specific train car conditions and requirements. Moxa has extensive experience in meeting customer application requirements by providing specific products and engineering services. Moxa’s passenger Wi-Fi solutions boost network performance by providing multiple redundant WAN connections, a full-Gigabit backbone, and broadband Wi-Fi access. A variety of technologies are available to achieve network reliability, availability, and easy operation and maintenance while reducing deployment complexity.



Why Moxa

  • Seamless Train-to-Ground Communications

    In order to have seamless switchover between WANs, ISPs, and service carriers between railcars and ground systems, Moxa's UC-8580/UC-8540 computers are equipped with MIRF (Mobile Intelligent Routing Framework) technology that enables intelligent routing between WLANs and WWANs, and performs VRRP assignments for redundant routing and load balancing.

  • Multiple WWAN Links

    To boost Internet connectivity, the UC-8580 computers accommodate up to 3 cellular modules and 1 Wi-Fi module to optimize wireless connections.

  • Dual-SIM Redundancy

    Each cellular modem has an active SIM and a backup SIM slot for cellular redundancy.

  • Full-Gigabit Backbone

    Each TN-G6512 switch has 12 Gigabit ports to allow more systems and services to be connected. In addition, the full-Gigabit bandwidth is suitable for streaming HD movies and music videos from the onboard media server to enhance passenger comfort during their journey.

  • Inter-Consist Network Redundancy

    The TN-G6512 series switches feature Dynamic Ring Coupling (DRC) technology that supports easy maintenance of redundant networks when train consists are rearranged.

  • Broadband Wi-Fi Access

    The AWK-RCC Series 802.11n AP/bridge/client devices are optimized to provide Internet access for up to 60 connected devices at the same time.

  • Reliable Designs Based on the EN 50155 Standard

    In order to enhance operational efficiency, Moxa’s rail-specific solutions comply with the mandatory sections of the EN 50155 standard, which covers operating temperature, power input voltage, surge, ESD, and vibration protection.

  • Tailored Features

    Moxa provides industry-certified hardware and software that meet specific customer requirements. Examples include push-pull M12 and QMA connectors, routing intelligence, and firewall solutions custom-built for unique railway applications.

Recommended Products

  • Wi-Fi Access Points
  • Gigabit Switches
  • Mobile Gateway Computers
  • Multimedia Servers
Moxa AWK-3131A-M12-RCC Industrial IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n Wireless AP/Bridge/Client

Industrial IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n Wireless AP/Bridge/Client


  • Designed specifically for rail carriage-to-carriage communications
  • 802.11n data transfers of up to 300 Mbps
  • Up to 60 concurrent connections
  • M12 and QMA anti-vibration connectors
  • Complies with the mandatory sections of the EN 50155 standard
  • Dual power inputs
  • Isolated power inputs and antenna
TN-G6512 EN 50155 12-port Full Gigabit Switches with up to 8-port PoE/PoE+

EN 50155 12-port Full Gigabit Switches with up to 8-port PoE/PoE+


  • 12 Gigabit ports, 8 of which can supply PoE+
  • Gigabit recovery time under 50 ms
  • Isolated power with wide 24 to 110 VDC power supply range
  • Complies with EN 50155 mandatory test items
  • -40 to 70°C operating temperature range
  • IP67-rated rugged casing

UC-8580/UC-8540 Series

Vehicle-to-Ground Computing Platform with Multiple WWAN Ports


  • Supports Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, and GPS
  • Built-in dual-SIM single-modem module for greater bandwidth and redundancy
  • Supports IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac wireless LAN
  • MIRF 2.0 for intelligent mobile routing and easy application deployment
  • Single-sided I/O wiring for easy installation and maintenance
  • Isolated 24 to 110 VDC power input with power-ignition function suitable for vehicle application
  • EN 50155 Tx (-40 to 70°C) operating temperature range
  • Complies with the mandatory sections of the EN 50155 standard
V2406A Series Compact, fanless, anti-vibration railway computers

Compact, Fanless, Anti-Vibration Railway Computers


  • Dual independent DVI-I displays
  • 2-port Gigabit with M12 X-coded connectors
  • 1 SATA connector and 2 CFast sockets for storage expansion
  • M12 A-coded power connector
  • Complies with the mandatory sections of the EN 50155 standard
  • Ready-to-run Windows Embedded Standard 7 or Linux Debian 7
  • -40 to 70°C operating temperature range
  • Supports SNMP-based system configuration, control, and monitoring