ERTMS and Telecommunications
ERTMS - European Rail Traffic Management System
Objective
The ‘European Rail Traffic Management System’ (ERTMS) is the European standard for CCS. ERTMS consists of ETCS, RMR and ATO. This system is installed both on the railway track (trackside subsystem) and on the rolling stock (on-board subsystem).
According to the relevant EU legislation, such as the ‘Guidelines on the Trans-European Network Transport’ (TEN-T), the deployment of ERTMS is mandatory on railway infrastructure projects for new or upgraded rail subsystems receiving financial support from the EU. Furthermore, following the entry into force of the 4th Railway Package in 2016, any ERTMS project must be approved by the EU Agency for Railways (ERA) to ensure interoperability with EU specifications (‘ERTMS Trackside Approval’). ERTMS is therefore one of the key enablers in creating the ‘Single European Railway Area’ in which trains can run seamlessly and rail Infrastructure Managers (IMs) are the key drivers of the deployment of ERTMS on a national level.
The related activities are regulated by Regulation (EU) 2023/1695 on the Technical Specification for Interoperability relating to the Control-Command and Signalling (CCS TSI) repealing Regulation (EU) 2016/919. CCS TSI applies to both onboard subsystems of vehicles and control-command and signalling trackside subsystems of the rail networks.
EIM actions in 2024
- EIM’s WG “ERTMS” organised the members’ input and worked on the remaining items after the TSI CCS update in August 2024.
- EIM’s WG “ERTMS” participated via the ERA ‘Control Group’ in the ERTMS Change Control Management (CCM) process to keep the ERTMS specifications stable via a controlled evolution of the so-called ‘game changers’.
- EIM’s WG “ERTMS” shared their experience on the implementation of the new TSI CCS and worked on outstanding issues as input for the next TSI CCS revision.
- The main focus in 2024 was the remaining work on the TSI CCS, including the TSI CCS Application Guide and the TSI CCS Amendment, which resulted in an ERA recommendation in December 2024. The amendment is planned to be voted Q2 2025 in RISC (Member States).
- EIM’s WG “ERTMS” prepared the EIM position regarding the CTO Council proposal on “ERTMS Baseline Light”.
Outlook 2025
- EIM’s WG “ERTMS” will follow the activities of ERJU related to the future architecture and modularisation of ERTMS as a member of the core group under the System Pillar.
- EIM’s WG “ERTMS” will continue contributing to the work progress of the ERJU System Pillar via an ad-hoc Task Force and Groups created for that purpose.
- EIM speakers will continue to contribute to the ERA ERTMS CCM process and the ERTMS Stakeholders Platform working groups.
- EIM’s WG “ERTMS” will continue contributing to the work in the frame of the renewed ERA mandate and the TSI CCS Application Guide.
Application Guide
Telecommunications
Objective
Telecommunications are a highly strategic topic for rail Infrastructure Managers (IMs) as they enable safe and secure communications for railway operations. This applies to the current railway mobile telecom technology, 4G/5G public services, GSM-R and its 5G successor technology FRMCS (‘Future Railway Mobile Communication System’). GSM-R will be phased out by 2030, and a successor FRMCS is essential for the railway industry and IMs. FRMCS is currently being standardised and its roll-out is expected to start on 2027/2028. Like ERTMS, Regulation (EU) 2016/919 on the Technical Specification of Interoperability relating to the Control-Command and Signalling (CCS TSI) also applies to telecommunications.
EIM actions in 2024
- EIM’s WG “TEL” has emersed itself in the review of the FRMCS specifications drafted by UIC and reviewed all the FRMCS specification documents.
- EIM WG “TEL” has advocated and gained the introduction of MNO frequencies within FRMCS and has managed to have it been made compulsory that Train On-Board units support the use of these frequencies. This is an important achievement in ensuring deployability of FRMCS as well as upgradability of FRMCS to future telecom technologies. EIM’s WG “TEL” has successfully aligned the various initiatives within EIM-membership for testing and piloting 5G technology in railways as well as the MORNAE2-test programme for FRMCS. Each EIM-member participating in the testing programme tests another aspect of the new system.
- EIM WG “TEL” provided experts to participate in the EU Rail activities undertaken by the newly launched High Level Deployment Group and its FRMCS-subgroup.
Outlook 2025
- EIM’s WG “TEL” will provide regular feedback on the upcoming TSI updates (functionality, architecture, spectrum, migration) and will coordinate its effort with EIM ERTMS WG.
- EIM’s WG “TEL” will contribute to the finalisation of the FRMCS V2-specifications (including the ETSI standards) and facilitate the actions in EU Rail R2DATO and Destination 2.
- EIM WG “TEL” will further develop its position on FRMCS to ensure usability, cost effectiveness and interoperability.
- EIM WG “TEL” will commence the testing programme MORANE2 and interact with the supply industry to have the first products built, installed and tested.
- EIM’s WG “TEL” and CER will follow-up on the ‘Strategic Deployment Agenda on Digital Rail Operations and Gigabit train’ in the GUIDE project and will continue to identify corresponding actions and next steps.
- EIM’s WG “TEL” will contribute to the activities within the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (ERJU) as appropriate.
Application guide