GSM-R
 

Can anyone please tell me how I can listen in to train to shore communications? What kit do I need? Is it legal?

What on earth is train to shore communications ?. Or, are we meaning train driver to Control Centre.

Yes. (tencharacters)

Hello and welcome to the forum.

You've entitled this thread 'GSM-R' - so I assume it's that which which you are referring to.

Long Answer
This is the latest digital radio system, based on proven GSM telephone technology, but with a twist that makes it exclusive to the railway.

It will be used for all manner of uses all over the rail network, but primarily it will be train to shore as you correctly say. It will replace both NRN and CSR eventually as those systems are phased out. Because it is essentially phone technology it can provide group calls, so several drivers can speak together at once (as in assistance procedure). Also when running in Emergency mode, all parties in the same cell will be able to listen in to the situation developing.

As well as base units installed in cabs, there are handsets which are like mobile phones.

It is also the digital gateway which enables ERTMS to to talk to trains and provide In-Cab signalling in the future. This is expected to be rolled out on the Southern End of the ECML soon, following trials on the Hertford Loop.

But It's digitally encoded and absolutely secure so no casual lsiteners will ever get to hear it.

Short Answer
You can't

HTH BW

And it will probably be illegal as technically is listening to Aircraft and Police frequencies

Listening is not illegal.............repeating what you hear is.

The answer for GSM-R is correct you can't as its set up for secure comms between the calling parties.

Les

LOL

the technical term is the use of information "with intent" I learnt this as an air cadet and we used air comms to track civil flights from London to Canada over a week-end as an Air Traffic control lesson with strict instructions not to identify flight call signs very difficult if you try it