Colibri: Digital Intelligence on Rolling Stock – Enabled by the X-Plecs®-TOP AMR 2×2 to 8×8 MIMO Roof Antenna
Rail transport in Germany is set to play an even greater role in the future. Travelling by train is comfortable, fast and environmentally friendly and digitalisation is a key prerequisite for making rail a reliable, high-performance mode of transport. This transformation does not only affect signalling and interlockings; the vehicles themselves are becoming significantly smarter.
Colibri — Digital Intelligence on Board
Within Deutsche Bahn, the DB Vehicle Maintenance division plays a crucial role in advancing digitalisation. Its depots do more than repair and overhaul rolling stock they modernise it.
With Colibri (Coach Link for Broadband Information Exchange), DB Vehicle Maintenance provides a flexible and scalable platform for fleet digitalisation, increasing comfort, safety, reliability and efficiency. Colibri is used not only in Deutsche Bahn locomotives, coaches and multiple units, but also in vehicles operated by other railway companies.
Colibri establishes a broadband connection between train and ground infrastructure via the public mobile network. Multiple network providers are used simultaneously to ensure optimal data throughput and availability.
The system transmits a wide range of operational data, including:
- Position and movement tracking
- Speed and direction of travel
- Vehicle fault notifications
For maintenance purposes, all diagnostic data is transmitted to a cloud-based application: the Remote Control System (RCS). Operators can therefore immediately detect issues such as:
- Door malfunctions
- Blocked toilets
- HVAC failures
As a result, passenger-affecting faults can be rectified faster and ideally avoided altogether. By analysing stored diagnostic data, Colibri enables predictive maintenance: components are replaced before they fail.
Most of these processes run invisibly in the background. Some functions, however, are directly noticeable to passengers.
The onboard Wi-Fi benefits from multiple providers and external vehicle antennas, providing a significantly more stable connection than mobile devices inside the carriage. Real-time passenger information is continuously updated, showing punctuality and connections. The onboard CCTV system also operates via Colibri; video streams can be transmitted to security personnel or the federal police if required.
For such a comprehensive digital platform to function reliably, it depends on powerful antennas installed on the vehicles.
Requirement: A Compact High-Performance Antenna for Harsh Railway Conditions
The antenna requirements were demanding. A cross-polarised 5G MIMO railway antenna was needed to reliably transmit multiple data streams while meeting strict operational criteria:
- Dual-polarised roof antennas to support high throughput using different signal polarisations
- A MIMO-capable multiband antenna with high gain for 5G, LTE, GSM, WLAN and GNSS
- Robust, maintenance-free railway-grade design capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions
- Very compact dimensions due to restricted installation space — especially on double-deck coaches
- Maximum height limited to 50–80 mm, width limited to 120 mm, to comply with structure gauge clearance
Double-deck vehicles feature fully curved roof surfaces, requiring antennas that can be mounted securely with minimal footprint.
Quote DB Fahrzeuginstandhaltung
The Antonics antennas met the required specifications in the decisive areas and prevailed in the competition.
Head of Market Development IT on Board, DB Vehicle Maintenance GmbH (2023)rzeuginstandhaltung GmbH (2023)
Thomas Derlig
A Building Block for the Digital Railway
Antonics antennas now demonstrate their performance and reliability on numerous vehicle roofs, making a significant contribution to railway digitalisation in Germany.
The Colibri system is already deployed in more than 2,000 vehicles and continues to expand:
- Full Colibri product suite installed in 174 Netz Elbe-Spree vehicles
- Buses, ticket machines and charging stations equipped with Colibri Wi-Fi
- The “Train of the Future” (SOB Idea Train) uses Colibri connectivity
- Hamburg Digital Customer Experience (DKE) project is equipped with Colibri Wi-Fi
- New Stadler KISS ENO double-deck EMUs in the Northern region were delivered factory-equipped with Colibri
Further retrofits are ongoing and additional new vehicles are entering service.
Together, Colibri and Antonics’ high-performance railway antennas create a future-proof foundation for digital transformation in rail transport. Reliable, high-speed and flexible data communication enables greater comfort, safety and operational efficiency, bringing Deutsche Bahn closer to its goal of a more punctual, modern and connected travel experience.
What begins today in individual projects will become tomorrow’s rail standard and a decisive building block for the mobility of the future.
