Recently, the integration of information and communication technologies has significantly propelled progress within heavy-haul railway systems, accelerating the growth of the transportation sector. Key technologies, including analog and digital radio train dispatching, Global System for Mobile Communications for Railway (GSM-R), Long-Term Evolution for Railway (LTE-R), and the emerging 5G for Railway (5G-R), have become essential components of heavy-haul railway communication networks. This paper commences with an evaluation of the communication service requirements for heavy-haul railways, followed by an exploration of their implementation in railway operations, including system infrastructure and networking mode. Moreover, the paper culminates in a synthesis of the latest technological developments and discusses potential future directions for heavy-haul railway communication systems and their applications. The objective is to meet the rising demand for reliable communication in heavy-haul railways, as well as to satisfy complex needs such as flexibility across various situations, connectivity, and rigorous security measures.