Databases
Telematics Applications for Freight and Passengers (formerly TAP and TAF)
Objective
TSI Telematics covers data exchanges between actors such as IMs, RUs, terminals, chargers, etc. IMs are communicating mainly (if not “only”) with other IMs and RUs.
The TSI Telematics shall not be confused with signalling related TSIs (e.g. CCS TSI) as the TSI Telematics does not cover interfaces and dialogues between trains and infrastructure. This role is played by signalling systems, radio systems, GSM-R, and more and more: dedicated digital systems adopting common standards like SFERA-DAS (UIC). However, those systems tend to adopt the same format as Telematics (TAP/TAF) for those data exchanges.
Specifically, the functions of the TSI Telematics functions define data processing mostly regarding the following variables:
- When (at which point in time) data must be sent
- What (which kind of information and content) must be sent to
- Whom (partner or partners) and
- How (in which format) the data must be exchanged.
The purpose of the TSI is to receive/emit information from/to legacy systems. Therefore, it does not impose any specific IT system.
The regulation of the TSI Telematics consists of 2 legal texts:
- TAF (Telematic Application for Freight)
- TAP (Telematic Applications for Passengers).
Both texts will be merged in 2025 to form a single TSI “Telematics”, composed of three main parts:
- Planning and Operations
- Freight
- Passenger
This merge will result in the accumulation of capacity and operational measures in the TAF TSI, while the TAP TSI is being stripped of its substance, containing only ticket sales and passenger information.
The goal of the TSI Telematics is to “automatise” and “digitalise” (thus the word “Telematic”) those exchanges while allowing each actor to get information from other IT systems into its internal one.
The EU Agency for Railways (ERA) acts as the system authority for telematics applications. In that capacity, ERA maintains, monitors, and manages all corresponding subsystem requirements at EU level. ERA publishes the so-called Technical Documents (TDs), which aim to facilitate the implementation of the regulation, giving support to more technical issues of telematics applications.
EIM in action
- EIM’s WG “Telematics” are involved in several telematic platforms: European Commission, EU Agency for Railways (ERA), Joint Sector Group.
- EIM’s WG “Telematics” participate in Technical Expert Groups (TEGs) meetings. Three types of meetings are held regarding Reference Files, Operational, and Planning. In these meetings experts share and harmonise needs on telematics message details, adding new messages etc. Ultimately, it is a platform where the needs of stakeholders are expressed and shared.
- EIM’s WG “Telematics” participate and actively contribute to the meetings of the Joint Sector Group and provide input to the TSI revision.
- EIM’s WG “Telematics” cooperates with ERA to amend and shape the Telematics TDs, promoting the interests of the EIM members.
- EIM’s WG “Telematics” keeps its members updated with relevant information from EC, ERA, rail representative bodies, other.
- EIM’s WG “Telematics” cooperates with other EIM WGs (OPE, RINF).
EIM actions in 2024
- The EIMs defended the sector by pointing at the “red flags”, i.e. the unjustified, costly and often complex changes in the draft of the new TSI Telematics, which bring no or little benefit for interoperability, but which the Commission seems to insist on.
- On this subject, EIM and its experts worked on a joint position with CER, JSG and UIP, consisting in a joint letter sent to the representatives of the Member States on the RISC committee.
- EIM also played an active part in obtaining an impact study for the Commission, to be carried out by ERA. The results should be known before June 2025.
- EIM, through its representatives, is also following the progress of the other 2 major European projects and their influence on TSI OPE and Telematics in particular: “Capacity” Regulation and ERJU System Pillar / Innovation Pillar”.
Outlook 2025
- EIM will continue to be active and vigilant in defending its members’ interests and the sector, in a busy year of challenges with the vote on the telematic TSI and the so-called “capacity” regulations, both scheduled for June 2025.
- EIM’s WG “Telematics” will continue participating in PRIME (Platform of Rail Infrastructure Managers in Europe), i.e. its subgroup on ‘Digital solutions for European rail capacity and traffic management in support of interoperability of different rail IT systems (technical borders), including European cross-border rail traffic’.
- EIM’s WG “Telematics” will organise regular WGs on telematic topics to share the state of the art and gather a joint vision of its members.
- EIM’s WG “Telematics” will proactively contribute to the shaping of the Telematics TSI act/annex and Technical Documents for the EC and ERA while gathering and harmonising the needs of EIM’s members.
- EIM’s WG “Telematics” will ensure a significant role in the sector’s involvement in the TSI revision process.
- EIM’s WG “Telematics” will serve as a forum to share experience and best practices of the implementation of Telematics applications among its members.
Application Guide
TAP
Commission Regulation (EU) No 454/2011 of 5 May 2011 on the technical specification for interoperability relating to the subsystem ‘telematics applications for passenger services’ of the trans-European rail system Text with EEA relevance.
TAF
Commission Regulation (EU) No 1305/2014 of 11 December 2014 on the technical specification for interoperability relating to the telematics applications for freight subsystem of the rail system in the European Union and repealing the Regulation (EC) No 62/2006 Text with EEA relevance
Register of Infrastructure
Objective
The Register of Infrastructure (RINF) is the main tool for describing the static rail network characteristics and capabilities, including all relevant information for Route Compatibility Checks.
Originally, the register focused on the reporting of the interoperability progress. Now, it shall support numerous other functions. The most prominent tasks are to distribute the detailed data used in the route book design while retaining the capability to describe the European rail infrastructure in a higher-level view that can be used to feed other sector applications such as the network statements, the TENtec database and the TAF/TAP applications.
The provision of accurate and up-to-date data is the responsibility of the rail infrastructure managers (IMs), which can be seconded by nationally designated National Registry Entities if Member States (MSs) choose to do so. Currently an entirely manual process, the RINF data provision is implicitly mandated to move to a more automated, machine-to-machine model to fulfil the new requirements.
This data will allow the RUs to assess the compatibility of their rolling stock with the infrastructure and build the Route Book for their personnel. The process and the information needed for those operations are described in the TSI OPE, Appendix D.
A new strategy of data management (FAIR principles and Linked Data) has been mandated for the new iterations of RINF. Although encouraged by the EC, this transition to linked data technologies is not mandatory for the IMs as alternative import possibilities should continue to exist to ensure maximum backwards compatibility.
EIM actions in 2024
- EIM’s WG “RINF” participated in the sector RINF WG meetings as well as in the ERA RINF Working Parties.
- EIM experts participated in all 5 Topical Working Groups (TWGs) set up to focus on certain aspects of the transition between the existing and future information models. Although they were planning to finish their work by the beginning of 2024, some of them are still working on their topics, as things needed more discussion and work. The 5 TWGs focus on (1) Microlevel, (2) CCS, (3) Route Book, (4) Validity dates, and (5) Alignment OP/SoL.
- In Q4 2024, the ERA Policy Officers and EIM experts met virtually for an informal brainstorming on RINF. The meeting aimed to discuss i) the difficulties for IMs to provide data in the current RINF, ii) the business case and use of RINF, and iii) the data format to best support the scope of RINF.
Outlook 2025
- EIM’s WG “RINF” will follow-up on the new functionalities to be covered by the RINF:
- Implementation of the Route book Functionalities.
- Implementation of the new required information.
- Implementation of the differential update mechanics.
- EIM’s WG “RINF” will continue to discuss with ERA how to:
- Improve the description of the network using more relevant parameter definitions.
- Implement the new data structures and data transfer procedures.
- EIM’s WG RINF will monitor the publication of the RINF Application Guide which will trigger a series of obligations for IMs.
- EIM’s WG RINF will contribute to the Working Party on ERA Ontology Change Control Management which had its first meeting in Q4 2024. The objective of this Working Party is to act as the Steering Board in the implementation of the Change Control Management procedure for the ERA Ontology.
Application guide
- The RINF Application Guide will be available in Q2 2025.