Many rumors have circulated regarding the "re-farming" of the railroad radio band and whether or not people will be able to monitor it once the changes are made. First of all, don't worry... These changes will progress very slowly. There isn't going to be a point where everything changes in a day, or even a month. It will take years before the whole rail system adopts a totally new standard. Once it does, you will still be able to monitor it. The way you monitor it may change, but it will still be open.

The basis for these changes are the various mandates that the FCC has imposed for radio systems... Their overall goal is to reorganize the radio spectrum so there's more room for all of the wireless equipment being put into use today, and also to try and create more interoperability between various services. One of the ways they're creating more space, is by narrowing the channel spacing in different service bands by splitting them...

The original AAR railroad radio band has a 15 kHz spacing between each channel. Modern technology allows channels to be spaced much closer together now, which creates more channels in a much smaller amount of radio spectrum. The FCC mandates that new radio systems use a smaller 12.5 kHz spacing by 2013. They also want new radio systems to eventually be capable of an even smaller channel spacing, mandating that manufacturers make all new equipment capable of a 6.25 kHz spacing by 2011, and that end users of new systems use a 6.25 kHz spacing by 2018. The new railroad band plan shown below is the one that would be adopted for the first 12.5 kHz mandate by 2013. This plan does not require radios to be digital. However, due to technical limitations for the much tighter 6.25 kHz channel spacing that will eventually happen, that plan will most likely require radios to be digital. It's this second new plan due in 2018 that has railroads experimenting with digital and trying to decide how exactly they will go about the change. Most radios being purchased now are capable of both analog and digital, or they're at least capable of being modified to digital.

So what will digital mean? For now it's hard to say exactly how it will all work. The most important thing to emphasize though, is that this will be a very slow change, and it will most likely NOT include any encryption on normal voice channels. For now, two digital protocols seem to be getting tested by the railroads and evaluated... The earliest one is the Motorola lead APCO-25 or 'P25'. This protocol is already widely in use around the US on various civil and private radio systems. However, Motorola has indicated that they don't seem to have much interest in the railroad industry at this point, due to the fact that they've discontinued both the railroad Spectra and Astro Spectra radio models. Also in the running for the new digital protocol for railroad radio is the Kenwood / Icom format called NXDN. This protocol is newer and proprietary to Kenwood and Icom equipment. It's also cheaper to implement than P25. Having a proprietary digital protocol for the rail industry wouldn't be that much of a problem, because unlike civil services, the rail industry is fairly self contained... They don't need their system to be compatible with other services. It's been reported that the big roads have been testing not only P25 but also the NXDN protocol. Which one will be the winner is still up in the air. Perhaps neither in the end. As of late 2008, some of the new radio equipment being fielded by the large roads is as followed:

Norfolk Southern: Kenwood TK-290 portables, unknown mobiles.
CSX: Icom portables, Motorola mobiles and Kenwood portables.
BNSF: Kenwood TK-290 & TK-2180 portables, some Motorolas, Kenwood TK-790 & 740 mobiles. 
UPRR: Kenwood TK-290 & TK-2180 portables.

Motorola no longer produces a dedicated 'clean cab' railroad radio, such as the Spectra or Astro Spectra. Motorola does have the P25 capable XTL2500 and XTL5000 mobiles, but these are not dedicated 'clean cab' style radios. There's basically three known 'clean cab' style radios other than the old Motorolas, and they're produced by JEM, Wabtec (refurbished Motorolas), and GE (formerly Harmon).

New 12.5 kHz Channel Spacing Plan for 2013

AAR Channel 002 - 159.810 (Used in Canada)
AAR Channel 003 - 159.930 (Used in Canada)
AAR Channel 004 - 160.050 (Used in Canada)
AAR Channel 005 - 160.185 (Used in Canada)
AAR Channel 006 - 160.200 (Used in Canada)

AAR Channel 007 - Rx 160.2150 - Tx 160.9350 (Trunked - Block A)
AAR Channel 107 - Rx 160.2225 - Tx 160.9425 (Trunked - Block B)
AAR Channel 008 - Rx 160.2300 - Tx 160.9500 (Trunked - Block C)
AAR Channel 108 - Rx 160.2375 - Tx 160.9575 (Trunked - Block D)
AAR Channel 009 - Rx 160.2450 - Tx 160.9650 (Trunked - Block E)
AAR Channel 109 - Rx 160.2525 - Tx 160.9725 (Trunked - Block F)
AAR Channel 010 - Rx 160.2600 - Tx 160.9800 (Trunked - Block G)
AAR Channel 110 - Rx 160.2675 - Tx 160.9875 (Trunked - Block H)
AAR Channel 011 - Rx 160.2750 - Tx 160.9950 (Trunked - Block I)
AAR Channel 111 - Rx 160.2825 - Tx 161.0025 (Trunked - Block J)
AAR Channel 012 - Rx 160.2900 - Tx 161.0100 (Trunked - Block A)
AAR Channel 112 - Rx 160.2975 - Tx 161.0175 (Trunked - Block B)
AAR Channel 013 - Rx 160.3050 - Tx 161.0250 (Trunked - Block C)
AAR Channel 113 - Rx 160.3125 - Tx 161.0325 (Trunked - Block D)
AAR Channel 014 - Rx 160.3200 - Tx 161.0400 (Trunked - Block E)
AAR Channel 114 - Rx 160.3275 - Tx 161.0475 (Trunked - Block F)
AAR Channel 015 - Rx 160.3350 - Tx 161.0550 (Trunked - Block G)
AAR Channel 115 - Rx 160.3425 - Tx 161.0625 (Trunked - Block H)
AAR Channel 016 - Rx 160.3500 - Tx 161.0700 (Trunked - Block I)
AAR Channel 116 - Rx 160.3575 - Tx 161.0775 (Trunked - Block J)
AAR Channel 017 - Rx 160.3650 - Tx 161.0850 (Trunked - Block A)
AAR Channel 117 - Rx 160.3725 - Tx 161.0925 (Trunked - Block B)
AAR Channel 018 - Rx 160.3800 - Tx 161.1000 (Trunked - Block C)
AAR Channel 118 - Rx 160.3875 - Tx 161.1075 (Trunked - Block D)
AAR Channel 019 - Rx 160.3950 - Tx 161.1150 (Trunked - Block E)
AAR Channel 119 - Rx 160.4025 - Tx 161.1225 (Trunked - Block F)
AAR Channel 020 - Rx 160.4100 - Tx 161.1300 (Trunked - Block G)
AAR Channel 120 - Rx 160.4175 - Tx 161.1375 (Trunked - Block H)
AAR Channel 021 - Rx 160.4250 - Tx 161.1450 (Trunked - Block I)
AAR Channel 121 - Rx 160.4325 - Tx 161.1525 (Trunked - Block J)
AAR Channel 022 - Rx 160.4400 - Tx 161.1600 (Trunked - Block A)
AAR Channel 122 - Rx 160.4475 - Tx 161.1675 (Trunked - Block B)
AAR Channel 023 - Rx 160.4550 - Tx 161.1750 (Trunked - Block C)
AAR Channel 123 - Rx 160.4625 - Tx 161.1825 (Trunked - Block D)
AAR Channel 024 - Rx 160.4700 - Tx 161.1900 (Trunked - Block E)
AAR Channel 124 - Rx 160.4775 - Tx 161.1975 (Trunked - Block F)
AAR Channel 025 - Rx 160.4850 - Tx 161.2050 (Trunked - Block G)
AAR Channel 125 - Rx 160.4925 - Tx 161.2125 (Trunked - Block H)
AAR Channel 026 - Rx 160.5000 - Tx 161.2200 (Trunked - Block I)
AAR Channel 126 - Rx 160.5075 - Tx 161.2275 (Trunked - Block J)
AAR Channel 027 - Rx 160.5150 - Tx 161.2350 (Trunked - Block A)
AAR Channel 127 - Rx 160.5225 - Tx 161.2425 (Trunked - Block B)
AAR Channel 028 - Rx 160.5300 - Tx 161.2500 (Trunked - Block C)
AAR Channel 128 - Rx 160.5375 - Tx 161.2575 (Trunked - Block D)
AAR Channel 029 - Rx 160.5450 - Tx 161.2650 (Trunked - Block E)
AAR Channel 129 - Rx 160.5525 - Tx 161.2725 (Trunked - Block F)
AAR Channel 030 - Rx 160.5600 - Tx 161.2800 (Trunked - Block G)
AAR Channel 130 - Rx 160.5675 - Tx 161.2875 (Trunked - Block H)
AAR Channel 031 - Rx 160.5750 - Tx 161.2950 (Trunked - Block I)
AAR Channel 131 - Rx 160.5825 - Tx 161.3025 (Trunked - Block J)
AAR Channel 032 - Rx 160.5900 - Tx 161.3100 (Trunked - Block A)
AAR Channel 132 - Rx 160.5975 - Tx 161.3175 (Trunked - Block B)
AAR Channel 033 - Rx 160.6050 - Tx 161.3250 (Trunked - Block C)
AAR Channel 133 - Rx 160.6125 - Tx 161.3325 (Trunked - Block D)
AAR Channel 034 - Rx 160.6200 - Tx 161.3400 (Trunked - Block E)
AAR Channel 134 - Rx 160.6275 - Tx 161.3475 (Trunked - Block F)
AAR Channel 035 - Rx 160.6350 - Tx 161.3550 (Trunked - Block G)
AAR Channel 135 - Rx 160.6425 - Tx 161.3625 (Trunked - Block H)
AAR Channel 036 - Rx 160.6500 - Tx 161.3700 (Trunked - Block I)
AAR Channel 136 - Rx 160.6575 - Tx 161.3775 (Trunked - Block J)
AAR Channel 037 - Rx 160.6650 - Tx 161.3850 (Trunked - Block A)
AAR Channel 137 - Rx 160.6725 - Tx 161.3925 (Trunked - Block B)
AAR Channel 038 - Rx 160.6800 - Tx 161.4000 (Trunked - Block C)
AAR Channel 138 - Rx 160.6875 - Tx 161.4075 (Trunked - Block D)
AAR Channel 039 - Rx 160.6950 - Tx 161.4150 (Trunked - Block E)
AAR Channel 139 - Rx 160.7025 - Tx 161.4225 (Trunked - Block F)
AAR Channel 040 - Rx 160.7100 - Tx 161.4300 (Trunked - Block G)
AAR Channel 140 - Rx 160.7175 - Tx 161.4375 (Trunked - Block H)
AAR Channel 041 - Rx 160.7250 - Tx 161.4450 (Trunked - Block I)
AAR Channel 141 - Rx 160.7325 - Tx 161.4525 (Trunked - Block J)
AAR Channel 042 - Rx 160.7400 - Tx 161.4600 (Trunked - Block A)
AAR Channel 142 - Rx 160.7475 - Tx 161.4675 (Trunked - Block B)
AAR Channel 043 - Rx 160.7550 - Tx 161.4750 (Trunked - Block C)
AAR Channel 143 - Rx 160.7625 - Tx 161.4825 (Trunked - Block D)
AAR Channel 044 - Rx 160.7700 - Tx 161.4900 (Trunked - Block E)
AAR Channel 144 - Rx 160.7775 - Tx 161.4975 (Trunked - Block F)
AAR Channel 045 - Rx 160.7850 - Tx 161.5050 (Trunked - Block G)
AAR Channel 145 - Rx 160.7925 - Tx 161.5125 (Trunked - Block H)
AAR Channel 046 - Rx 160.8000 - Tx 161.5200 (Trunked - Block I)
AAR Channel 146 - Rx 160.8075 - Tx 161.5275 (Trunked - Block J)
AAR Channel 047 - Rx 160.8150 - Tx 161.5350 (Duplex)
AAR Channel 147 - Rx 160.8225 - Tx 161.5425 (Duplex)
AAR Channel 048 - Rx 160.8300 - Tx 161.5500 (Duplex)
AAR Channel 148 - Rx 160.8375 - Tx 161.5575 (Duplex)
AAR Channel 049 - Rx 160.8450 - Tx 161.5650 (Duplex)
AAR Channel 149 - 160.8525 - (Simplex)
AAR Channel 050 - 160.8600 - (Simplex Data)
AAR Channel 150 - 160.8675 - (Simplex Data)
AAR Channel 051 - 160.8750 - (Simplex Data)
AAR Channel 151 - 160.8825 - (Simplex Data)
AAR Channel 052 - 160.8900 - (Simplex Data)
AAR Channel 152 - 160.8975 - (Simplex Data)
AAR Channel 053 - 160.9050 - (Simplex Data)
AAR Channel 153 - 160.9125 - (Simplex Data)
AAR Channel 054 - 160.9200 - (Simplex Data)
AAR Channel 154 - 160.9275 - (Simplex)
AAR Channel 055 - Rx 160.9350 - Tx 160.2150 (Trunked - Block A)
AAR Channel 155 - Rx 160.9425 - Tx 160.2225 (Trunked - Block B)
AAR Channel 056 - Rx 160.9500 - Tx 160.2300 (Trunked - Block C)
AAR Channel 156 - Rx 160.9575 - Tx 160.2375 (Trunked - Block D)
AAR Channel 057 - Rx 160.9650 - Tx 160.2450 (Trunked - Block E)
AAR Channel 157 - Rx 160.9725 - Tx 160.2525 (Trunked - Block F)
AAR Channel 058 - Rx 160.9800 - Tx 160.2600 (Trunked - Block G)
AAR Channel 158 - Rx 160.9875 - Tx 160.2675 (Trunked - Block H)
AAR Channel 059 - Rx 160.9950 - Tx 160.2750 (Trunked - Block I)
AAR Channel 159 - Rx 161.0025 - Tx 160.2825 (Trunked - Block J)
AAR Channel 060 - Rx 161.0100 - Tx 160.2900 (Trunked - Block A)
AAR Channel 160 - Rx 161.0175 - Tx 160.2975 (Trunked - Block B)
AAR Channel 061 - Rx 161.0250 - Tx 160.3050 (Trunked - Block C)
AAR Channel 161 - Rx 161.0325 - Tx 160.3125 (Trunked - Block D)
AAR Channel 062 - Rx 161.0400 - Tx 160.3200 (Trunked - Block E)
AAR Channel 162 - Rx 161.0475 - Tx 160.3275 (Trunked - Block F)
AAR Channel 063 - Rx 161.0550 - Tx 160.3350 (Trunked - Block G)
AAR Channel 163 - Rx 161.0625 - Tx 160.3425 (Trunked - Block H)
AAR Channel 064 - Rx 161.0700 - Tx 160.3500 (Trunked - Block I)
AAR Channel 164 - Rx 161.0775 - Tx 160.3575 (Trunked - Block J)
AAR Channel 065 - Rx 161.0850 - Tx 160.3650 (Trunked - Block A)
AAR Channel 165 - Rx 161.0925 - Tx 160.3725 (Trunked - Block B)
AAR Channel 066 - Rx 161.1000 - Tx 160.3800 (Trunked - Block C)
AAR Channel 166 - Rx 161.1075 - Tx 160.3875 (Trunked - Block D)
AAR Channel 067 - Rx 161.1150 - Tx 160.3950 (Trunked - Block E)
AAR Channel 167 - Rx 161.1225 - Tx 160.4025 (Trunked - Block F)
AAR Channel 068 - Rx 161.1300 - Tx 160.4100 (Trunked - Block G)
AAR Channel 168 - Rx 161.1375 - Tx 160.4175 (Trunked - Block H)
AAR Channel 069 - Rx 161.1450 - Tx 160.4250 (Trunked - Block I)
AAR Channel 169 - Rx 161.1525 - Tx 160.4325 (Trunked - Block J)
AAR Channel 070 - Rx 161.1600 - Tx 160.4400 (Trunked - Block A)
AAR Channel 170 - Rx 161.1675 - Tx 160.4475 (Trunked - Block B)
AAR Channel 071 - Rx 161.1750 - Tx 160.4550 (Trunked - Block C)
AAR Channel 171 - Rx 161.1825 - Tx 160.4625 (Trunked - Block D)
AAR Channel 072 - Rx 161.1900 - Tx 160.4700 (Trunked - Block E)
AAR Channel 172 - Rx 161.1975 - Tx 160.4775 (Trunked - Block F)
AAR Channel 073 - Rx 161.2050 - Tx 160.4850 (Trunked - Block G)
AAR Channel 173 - Rx 161.2125 - Tx 160.4925 (Trunked - Block H)
AAR Channel 074 - Rx 161.2200 - Tx 160.5000 (Trunked - Block I)
AAR Channel 174 - Rx 161.2275 - Tx 160.5075 (Trunked - Block J)
AAR Channel 075 - Rx 161.2350 - Tx 160.5150 (Trunked - Block A)
AAR Channel 175 - Rx 161.2425 - Tx 160.5225 (Trunked - Block B)
AAR Channel 076 - Rx 161.2500 - Tx 160.5300 (Trunked - Block C)
AAR Channel 176 - Rx 161.2575 - Tx 160.5375 (Trunked - Block D)
AAR Channel 077 - Rx 161.2650 - Tx 160.5450 (Trunked - Block E)
AAR Channel 177 - Rx 161.2725 - Tx 160.5525 (Trunked - Block F)
AAR Channel 078 - Rx 161.2800 - Tx 160.5600 (Trunked - Block G)
AAR Channel 178 - Rx 161.2875 - Tx 160.5675 (Trunked - Block H)
AAR Channel 079 - Rx 161.2950 - Tx 160.5750 (Trunked - Block I)
AAR Channel 179 - Rx 161.3025 - Tx 160.5825 (Trunked - Block J)
AAR Channel 080 - Rx 161.3100 - Tx 160.5900 (Trunked - Block A)
AAR Channel 180 - Rx 161.3175 - Tx 160.5975 (Trunked - Block B)
AAR Channel 081 - Rx 161.3250 - Tx 160.6050 (Trunked - Block C)
AAR Channel 181 - Rx 161.3325 - Tx 160.6125 (Trunked - Block D)
AAR Channel 082 - Rx 161.3400 - Tx 160.6200 (Trunked - Block E)
AAR Channel 182 - Rx 161.3475 - Tx 160.6275 (Trunked - Block F)
AAR Channel 083 - Rx 161.3550 - Tx 160.6350 (Trunked - Block G)
AAR Channel 183 - Rx 161.3625 - Tx 160.6425 (Trunked - Block H)
AAR Channel 084 - Rx 161.3700 - Tx 160.6500 (Trunked - Block I)
AAR Channel 184 - Rx 161.3775 - Tx 160.6575 (Trunked - Block J)
AAR Channel 085 - Rx 161.3850 - Tx 160.6650 (Trunked - Block A)
AAR Channel 185 - Rx 161.3925 - Tx 160.6725 (Trunked - Block B)
AAR Channel 086 - Rx 161.4000 - Tx 160.6800 (Trunked - Block C)
AAR Channel 186 - Rx 161.4075 - Tx 160.6875 (Trunked - Block D)
AAR Channel 087 - Rx 161.4150 - Tx 160.6950 (Trunked - Block E)
AAR Channel 187 - Rx 161.4225 - Tx 160.7025 (Trunked - Block F)
AAR Channel 088 - Rx 161.4300 - Tx 160.7100 (Trunked - Block G)
AAR Channel 188 - Rx 161.4375 - Tx 160.7175 (Trunked - Block H)
AAR Channel 089 - Rx 161.4450 - Tx 160.7250 (Trunked - Block I)
AAR Channel 189 - Rx 161.4525 - Tx 160.7325 (Trunked - Block J)
AAR Channel 090 - Rx 161.4600 - Tx 160.7400 (Trunked - Block A)
AAR Channel 190 - Rx 161.4675 - Tx 160.7475 (Trunked - Block B)
AAR Channel 091 - Rx 161.4750 - Tx 160.7550 (Trunked - Block C)
AAR Channel 191 - Rx 161.4825 - Tx 160.7625 (Trunked - Block D)
AAR Channel 092 - Rx 161.4900 - Tx 160.7700 (Trunked - Block E)
AAR Channel 192 - Rx 161.4975 - Tx 160.7775 (Trunked - Block F)
AAR Channel 093 - Rx 161.5050 - Tx 160.7850 (Trunked - Block G)
AAR Channel 193 - Rx 161.5125 - Tx 160.7925 (Trunked - Block H)
AAR Channel 094 - Rx 161.5200 - Tx 160.8000 (Trunked - Block I)
AAR Channel 194 - Rx 161.5275 - Tx 160.8075 (Trunked - Block J)
AAR Channel 095 - Rx 161.5350 - Tx 160.8150 (Duplex)
AAR Channel 195 - Rx 161.5425 - Tx 160.8225 (Duplex)
AAR Channel 096 - Rx 161.5500 - Tx 160.8300 (Duplex)
AAR Channel 196 - Rx 161.5575 - Tx 160.8375 (Duplex)
AAR Channel 097 - Rx 161.5650 - Tx 160.8450 (Duplex)