Infrastructure and Stations

Stations

Objective

In Europe, some rail infrastructure managers own or operate stations. In some cases, the operational part of station management is delegated to another entity, which could also be a railway undertaking. EIM’s members who manage stations are keen to share knowledge and experience with European peers on topics such as station management, development and operations, but also on critical and strategic issues (e.g. security, digitalisation and multimodality).

EIM in action

  • The WG shares information and best practice relevant to stations. It focuses on the status and application of standards for stations and on the division of responsibility for platforms.
  • EIM monitors the relevant legislation affecting stations (e.g. safety, PRM, capacity, etc) and triggers its members’ input when needed.
  • EIM ensures coordination and collaboration with the PRM WG given the shared topics of interest.
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EIM actions in 2022

  • The WG met regularly during the year and launched an enquiry on the minimum design requirements for platforms, also involving EIM’s WG Passengers with Reduced Mobility (PRM).
  • The members of the WG PRM were also involved in all relevant discussions related to stations.

Outlook 2023

  • The WG will continue to organise joint meetings with the WG PRM discussing investment projects involving the design and operation of stations linked to the TSI PRM
  • The WG will also discuss key issues for station managers, such as energy efficiency in stations and sustainability measures; digital solutions for tracking people’s movements with a focus on LIDAR technology; next round of TSI revisions.
  • The cooperation with the Resilience WG will be increased given the need to have a coordinated approach on certain continuity aspects

Infrastructures

Objective

The 4th Railway Package and especially the Directive (EU) 2016/797 on the interoperability of the rail system within the European Union, require the adaptation of the network to European standards to allow a smooth circulation of trains in Europe. The first step for Infrastructure Managers (IMs) towards this goal is to follow the European requirements when renewing, upgrading or building new lines and stations. These requirements are stated in the Technical Specification for Interoperability on Infrastructure (TSI INF) (Regulation (EU) 1299/2014) to ensure the interoperability of the subsystem.  IMs are committed to increase the capacity and efficiency of their rail infrastructure to the goal of the EU to shift medium distance passenger transport and freight from aviation and road to rail and to cut CO2 emissions in transport by 90% by 2050, as defined in the 2021 EU “Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy’.

EIM in action

  • EIM aims at improving interoperability of the network by filling the gaps in the TSI INF in a cost-efficient way. The implementation of the TSI can be improved by sharing practical experiences with the new TSI.
  • EIM’s Infrastructures Working Group (INF WG) cooperates with the relevant peer group of CER (CER INF WG) to gather infrastructure expert’s competence from both sector organisations in Europe and to develop joint opinions and change proposals vis à vis ERA.
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EIM actions in 2022

  • EIM supported the EU Agency for Railways (ERA) in the revision of the TSI INF via technical experience;
  • EIM’s INF WG has taken part in ERA’s Topical Working Group “Interfaces between Rolling Stock and Fixed Installations” (TWG RST-FI Interface). This ERA TWG is working with 5 Change Requests (CRs). These CRs are RST-INF interface related and mainly pointed out by ERA, not the INF sector.
  • EIM’s INF WG has held joint meetings with CER’s INF WG ( Joint EIM CER INF WG) currently chaired by EIM’s INF WG. EIM submitted the joint Change Requests of EIM’s and CER’s INF experts for inclusion in ERA’s CCM Tool (change control management).
  • ERA considered the opinion of EIM’s INF WG during the closing of the open points in the TSI INF.

Outlook 2023

EIM’s INF WG will continue its work with the following topics:

  • Continued focus on Application guide for INF TSI until finalisation
  • Evaluation and analysis of revised INF TSI 2023
  • Prepare for future INF TSI revisions
  • Review of IC:s (Interoperable constituents)
  • Assessment of track resistance
  • Maximum pressure variations in tunnels

Prepare EIM “Best practice” handbook for assessment of INF TSI basic parameters (this is not discussed within EIM INF)

Application guide

Commission Regulation (EU) No 1299/2014 on the technical specifications for interoperability relating to the ‘infrastructure’ subsystem of the rail system in the European Union

EU LEGISLATION INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGERS

Asset Management

Objective

The efficient management of rail infrastructure assets, including the accurate forecast of related investment plans, are the cornerstone of the business of rail infrastructure managers (IMs). IMs are looking to maximize the ‘value for money’ of their operations to deliver benefits to funders and other stakeholders and to improve service delivery to customers through ever more efficient asset management. Efficient asset management is about achieving the right balance between the cost of maintenance, renewal, traffic management and delivering excellent customer service and the revenue coming from commercial activities and subsidies.

EIM in action

  • EIM’s permanent Working Group on “Asset Management” promotes the exchange of information among IMs for evidence-based analyses and benchmarks of management practices for business performance improvements.
  • The group will be triggered in case a concrete need for exchange among IMs arise in this domain.
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EIM actions in 2022

  • The WG set up an “Advanced Data Analytic” subgroup.
  • The activities of this group were put on hold in 2022 until specific needs for further exchange among Asset Management experts are identified.

Outlook 2023

  • If specific needs arise the group will reconvene to tackle them.

Resilience

Objective

Degraded situations stemming from a lack of preparedness for extreme and unexpected events are an increasing concern, particularly as these events may affect the performance or lifespan of assets owned and operated by Rail Infrastructure Managers (IMs). This can have severe operational, financial, environmental and social consequences. Therefore, ‘resilience’ is becoming an increasingly critical topic for IMs.

IMs ensure efficient rail operations through the development of dedicated resilience plans and processes covering the entire value chain of infrastructure management. Resilience aspects may include, among other things, business continuity in case of sanitary and political crisis, climate change, technical failures, security issues and human errors.

EIM in action

  • EIM’s Resilience Working Group exchanges information among IMs and acts as a platform for benchmarking of the main infrastructure ‘vulnerabilities’ as well as the respective ‘Business Continuity Plans’ (BCM) in place.
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EIM actions in 2022

  • The WG held monthly calls to exchange on contingency measures.
  • The WG also organized 3“Deep Dives” on different thematic issues:
    • Flooding and extreme temperatures;
    • Contingency on command-and-control systems;
    • Cybersecurity including ICT critical applications and

Outlook 2023

  • Considering the increasing EC initiatives involving cybersecurity management as well as business continuity aspects, the WG will also increase its coordination with EIM’s WG SEC/Cybersecurity.
  • In parallel, the WG will look at aspects linked to IMs’ compliance with the new EU “Directive on Resilience of Critical Entities”, notably in relation to the resilience risk assessment analysis.
  • For this purpose the WG will strengthen the exchange of information of BCM Plans.
  • The WG will continue its monthly meetings to exchange on contingency measures.