ERTMS and Telecommunications
ERTMS
Objectives
The ‘European Rail Traffic Management System’ (ERTMS) is the European standard for automatic train protection. ERTMS consists of a safety system that enforces compliance by the train with speed limitations and the signalling status. 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 has to 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 to create the ‘Single European Railway Area’ in which trains can run seamlessly and Infrastructure Managers (IMs) are the key drivers of the deployment of ERTMS on national level.
The related activities are regulated by Regulation (EU) 2016/919 on the Technical Specification for Interoperability relating to the Control-Command and Signalling (CCS TSI). CCS TSI applies to both on-board subsystems of vehicles and control-command and signalling trackside subsystems of the rail networks.
EIM in action
- EIM contributes to the European Commission’s ‘ERTMS Stakeholder Platform’, together with the ERA, railway undertakings and suppliers;
- EIM’s ERTMS Working Group (ERTMS WG) reviews the evolution of ERTMS in Europe. The ERTMS WG cooperates with other EIM WGs (e.g. Train Detection Compatibility (TDC WG), Operations (OPE WG) and Telecommunications Working group (TEL WG) to ensure a single, coherent EIM position in this domain.
- EIM contributes to the development of the future architecture to be done under Europe´s Rail (System Pillar)
EIM actions in 2022
- EIM organised the members’ input to the draft update of the TSI CCS which were successfully discussed with ERA and the European Commission;
- EIM 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’.
- The main focus in 2022 was the preparation of the TSI update which was planned to be adopted and published in 2022. The RISC voting is for the moment delayed until spring 2023.
Outlook 2023
- EIM will follow the EC ERJU (Europe´s Rail) activity related to the future architecture and modularisation of the ERTMS as a member of the core group under the System Pillar.
- EIM will continue contributing to the work progress of the 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 such as the new ERTMS Subgroup on the game changers.
- EIM will continue working on the finalisation of the TSI update which is planned to be adopted and published in Q1 2023
- EIM members will share experience on implementation of the new TSI CCS once legally in force and will work on outstanding issues as input for a next TSI CCS revision.
Application Guide
EC Regulation (EU) 2016/919 on the technical specification for interoperability relating to the ‘control-command and signalling’ subsystems of the rail system in the European Union.
Train Detection Compatibility
Objectives
Train Detection Compatibility (TDC) defines the specifications of all electro-magnetic compatibility (EMC) issues related to interface parameters. This applies in particular to all compatibility issues related to train detection systems. These range, among others, from electromagnetic effects caused by traction and track circuits, sanding problems for track circuits, eddy current brakes, to more general frequency management issues of rolling stock. Train detection compatibility is defined in the Regulation (EU) 2016/919 on the Technical Specification for Interoperability relating to the Control-Command and Signalling (CCS TSI). IMs are actively involved in this matter as they manage the EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) and the ‘immunity’ of the signalling and telecommunications systems of their infrastructure with the emissions/frequencies of the rolling stock.
EIM in action
- EIM advocates to improve the compatibility in the CCS TSI by extending its scope to non-standard gauge widths.
- EIM’s Train Detection Compatibility Working Group (TDC WG) works in cooperation with CER, notably on EMC compliance of track circuits, frequency management and migration.
EIM actions in 2022
- EIM commented TDC related aspects in the CCS TSI and contributed to the corrections in the table for axle counter compatibility, the development of conformity assessment (wheel detectors) and the requirements on axle distances for high speed;
- EIM’s members attended the joint rail sector Subgroup and TDC Working Party;
- EIM’s members worked on the closure of further open points in the TSI CCS;
- EIM contributes to ERA’s workstream on frequency management for track circuits;
- EIM and CER set up a dedicated Working Group on sanding issues;
- ERA finished the application guide and included, among others, how to use frequency management for track circuits between IMs and manufacturers of track circuits. Some parameters will be sent to CENELEC.
- Different annexes have been modified or added and are under discussion:
- Annex 1: Basic Parameter 4.2.10 – Shunting impedance for track circuits (modified)
- Annex 2: Basic Parameter 4.2.11 – Electromagnetic fields (modified)
- Annex 3: Basic Parameter 4.2.11 – Conducted interference (new)
Outlook 2023
- EIM will make the link between CENELEC requirements and the requirements in the TSI CCS;
- EIM will investigate the compatibility between axle counters and magnetic brakes.
- EIM will continue attending the TDC Working Party;
- EIM’s members will work on the closure of further open points in the TSI CCS;
- EIM’s TDC WG will work together with CER to update the TSI CCS Application Guide on Compatibility Mode to include the role of IMs with regards to axle counters, to include the explanation of the design of the cabling system and add safety requirements for train detection.
Application guide
EC Regulation (EU) 2016/919 Technical specification for interoperability relating to the ‘control-command and signalling’ subsystems of the rail system in the European Union
Telecommunications
Objective
Telecommunications is a highly strategic topic for Rail Infrastructure Managers (IMs) as it enables 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. GSM-R will be phased out by 2030, and a successor is essential for the railway industry and IMs. The ‘Future Railway Mobile Communication System’ (FRMCS) is currently being standardised and its roll-out is expected to start from 2025/2026 onwards. Like ERTMS, the Regulation (EU) 2016/919 on the Technical Specification of Interoperability relating to the Control-Command and Signalling (CCS TSI) also applies to telecommunications.
EIM in action
- EIM’s Telecom Working Group (TEL WG) supports the life cycle management of GSM-R and its current use for ERTMS (e.g. ETCS over GPRS and KPI management);
- EIM TEL supports the strategy for the Future Railway Mobile Telecom system (FRMCS) in cooperation with the ERTMS community.
- EIM TEL advocates a high-performing, robust and cost-efficient FRMCS, as well as a clear migration plan between the old and the new system.
EIM actions in 2022
- Spectrum allocation has been confirmed for railways, which is a major step in the feasibility of FRMCS.
- EIM TEL WG will focussed mostly on the GSM-R successor technology (FRMCS) and more specifically its architecture, spectrum and migration.
- EIM TEL WG continued to advocate public mobile networks as part of FRMCS by several contributions. It revealed that IMs expect FRMCS to support both the use of private networks and public mobile networks (when appropriate).
- EIM Tel reviewed all standardisation documents for the upcoming TSI 2022/2023.
- EIM TEL WG finalised the GSM-R KPI specifications (Subset-093 and O-2475) in the context of EECT. These specifications were published in March 2022.
Outlook 2023
- EIM TEL WG will provide regular feedback on the upcoming TSI update (functionality, architecture, spectrum, migration) and will coordinate its effort with EIM ERTMS WG.
- EIM TEL WG will significantly contribute to the review of the TSI 2023 and FRMCS V2. It will review all specifications (e.g. FRS, SRS, TOBA, FFIS, FIS and several other ETCS subsets).
- EIM TEL WG will further develop its position on FRMCS to ensure usability, cost effectiveness and interoperability;
- Within FRMCS, EIM TEL WG will promote the implementation of a solution which supports both the use of private networks (dedicated spectrum) and public mobile networks.
- EIM’s TEL WG and CER will follow-up on the ‘Strategic Deployment Agenda on Digital Rail Operations and Gigabit train’ and will continue to identify corresponding actions and next steps.
- EIM Tel will contribute to EU Rail development as appropriate.
Application guide
EC Regulation (EU) 2016/919 on the technical specification for interoperability relating to the ‘control-command and signalling’ subsystems of the rail system in the European Union.