Interference Control for Railway Wireless Communication Systems: Techniques, Challenges, and Trends

Railway wireless communication systems (RWCSs) are dedicated for the transmission of train control and dispatch commands, where ultrahigh reliability and low latency are needed. However, due to the nature of wireless communications, RWCSs are vulnerable to interference and jamming from intentional and/or unintentional sources, which can be extremely dangerous for the trains' safety. In this article, we analyze the mechanisms of interference and its impairments to RWCSs as well as currently employed countermeasures for these impairments. Possible solutions for better interference control are also discussed.