Transcript Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS

Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• Interoperability within the EC: what does it mean?
• Interoperability consists of a series of technical-regulatory
interventions by which the EU plans to bring the various
national railway systems towards a railway network which is
open and integrated at a European level.
• All the initiatives aimed at making the technical
characteristics of the EU railway networks homogeneous - and,
therefore, interoperable - refer to the objective of
interoperability.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• Interoperability may be defined as:
the capacity of the various national networks to interact,
without interruption, with the adjoining networks, enabling a
passenger or goods train to circulate without distinction on
any section of the large trans-European railway network.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• Interoperability: who is involved?
• The project for development of the interoperability arises from
the collaboration of the EU Member States and from the
constructive involvement of the following parties which are
directly interested:
• infrastructure managers
• rail firms
• rail industry
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• The representatives of these sectors, joined together under the
former AEIF (European Association for Railway
Interoperability) – now the European Railway Agency (ERA),
have the duty of agreeing upon and defining the Technical
Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs), i.e. the technical
solutions to guarantee the essential requirements for making an
interoperable railway system operational.
• The interoperability intervenes on a SYSTEM, it modifies it,
opens it up, modernises it, strengthens it and integrates the
various components.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• The above-mentioned parties involved in the interoperability
all play a part in this transformation, together with social
parties and representatives of the users, who are also
consulted.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• Interoperability: importance
• The reasons why the implementation of interoperability is
indispensable are mainly of an economic and commercial
nature.
• The competitiveness of the railway system is dependent, at the
moment, on the differences between the Member States in
terms of materials, technology, signals, safety regulations,
braking systems, traction current and speed limits. The
international trains which cross many States are forced, by this
situation of system segmentation, to stop at the border.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• The technical differences between the European states, over
the years, has been due to:
• the need to protect their particular interests or those of the
respective rail industries.
• at the same time, it led to a reduction in the traffic quotas.
• Road transport, on the other hand, strengthened its market
position by taking advantage of the absence of technical and
logistic barriers.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• European railways are still not able to guarantee - for freight,
for example - door-to-door international transport. The lack of
harmonised network systems in the past has caused losses in
terms of quality of the service and, therefore, competitiveness.
• Moreover, the technical and regulatory barriers have direct
consequences on the configuration of the transport market:
They favour the existing firms and slow down the entrance of
new operators and the growth of a more competitive market.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• An open market, without technical barriers, is the best
guarantee for an increase in the quality of the services
offered (the firms are forced to compete with one another)
and for an expansion of the demand.
• At the same time, it is the opportunity to make new
investments.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• The interoperability represents one of the absolutely essential
factors for the revival of rail transport and the consequent
rebalancing of the general transport market.
• Thanks to the interoperability and the construction of a railway
sector which is legally and technically integrated and
commercially competitive, even the aim of reducing traffic
congestion on the EU roads becomes possible, with the
reduction of pollution and clear advantages for the
environment.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• Interoperability: advantages
• The development of railway interoperability is a process which
requires time, investments and political will, with a truly
European view for the growth of the EU Member States.
• This process involves various sectors of the civil and
economic life of each State:
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
1. The rail companies
•
The national railways and their companies for the
management of the network and the transport, stimulated by
the EU Directives on the interoperability of the high-speed
(96/48/EC – supplemented by Directive 2001/16/EC) and
conventional (2001/16/EC) trans-European railway systems,
take the necessary measures to reduce the differences with
the other networks, in order to safely improve the circulation
of the international trains when they cross the frontiers,
searching for common standards on issues of:
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
– signalling and commands,
– telematics applications for freight transport,
– operation and management of the rolling stock to be used
for international transport,
– qualifications of personnel,
– etc.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• The investment in the upgrading of the networks and rolling
stock to common technological standards represents the
opportunity to upgrade, modernize and strengthen the entire
national rail system.
• The modal rebalance, resulting from the adoption of
interoperability, favours an increase in rail traffic and the
commercial development of the rail companies.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
2. The customers
•
The customers of passenger and freight rail transport are the
parties most sensitive to an overall improvement in the
performance of an interoperable rail service, which is aligned
with the highest international standards.
•
The customers cannot fail to benefit from a safer, faster and
technologically advanced transport system, which is planned
to meet the needs of a demanding and international market.
And the customers - both passengers and freight - formulate
the market opinion on the improvements which
interoperability brings to each individual network.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• Finally, market liberalization brings the customers to a new
central position which, in turn, implies a new approach and a
new way of communicating with the public for every rail
company.
3. The industry in the railway sector
• There are two types of advantage for the rail industry sector
and the induced industries:
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• improvement of the quality of the products: The
manufacturers of rolling stock, infrastructures and
technological systems are encouraged by the interoperability to
carry out research and to increase the level of production to
meet the requirements of a market which demands more
modern standards which are compatible with those of the other
countries.
• market expansion: The industry is encouraged to invest in the
development of new and more modern products and, due to
the interoperability - which guarantees that its products may be
adopted by any other Member State - it sees an expansion of
its potential market. This competition with the firms in other
countries encourages the firms to adopt evermore competitive
industrial practices. This leads to a virtuous circle which is to
the advantage of the entire system-country and the wider
European industrial system.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
4. The transport operators
• A market with continental, and no longer national, borders
represents an opportunity for growth of all the operators
working in a direct or indirect manner in the transport sector.
Also here, the involvement in a large market becomes the
stimulus to improve services and supplies.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
5. The individual countries
• The interoperability directly influences the infrastructure
system of the countries which adopt it and it becomes a strong
stimulus for the economic/industrial, social and cultural
development.
• It redraws the transport map, moving greater traffic flows onto
rail - which is the form of transport to cause the least impact
on the environment and the territory.
• It favours industrial and commercial growth, and contributes in
a concrete manner to the construction of a shared European
identity.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• ERTMS: ERA’s instrument to achieve a high level of
interoperability
• ERTMS - What is it?
The European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) is a
European cab-based signalling and train control system that
offers significant capacity and performance benefits, as well as
further enhancing safety beyond the capability of legacy
automatic train protection (ATP) systems.
Its final aim is to improve the competitiveness of the rail
sector.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
The deployment of a unique harmonised train
command/control and telecommunication systems and the
creation of trans-European traffic management facilities
constitute crucial elements toward the achievement of a
real integrated rail network.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• How does ERTMS work?
ERTMS consists of two primary components:
– ETCS (European Train Control and Command System) &
– GSM-R (the radio communications system to send
information to the train).
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• Why should the rail industry invest in ERTMS?
ERTMS brings long term benefits for the industry such as:
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Significant capacity improvements
Performance and reliability benefits
Enhanced safety beyond the capability of legacy ATP systems
Reduced life cycle cost of operating the railways
Compliant with European Interoperability Legislation.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• One of the main benefits for ERTMS look at increasing
capacity. Potentially what is this increase in capacity?
It is widely recognised that ERTMS can bring significant
capacity benefits. As a continuous communication-based
signalling system, ERTMS reduces the headway between
trains enabling up to 40% more capacity on currently existing
infrastructure
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• What is the safety case for ERTMS?
ERTMS reduces the possibility for human error providing a
comprehensive automatic train protection (ATP) function,
where this does not yet exist.
ERTMS works as a safe monitoring system, continuously
supervising the speed of each train according to track and train
data. If the actual train speed exceeds the permitted data,
brakes are applied automatically. This ensures the train will be
stopped in front of the danger point.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
The above-said, coupled with the flexibility of ERTMS which
can be applied to low-density as well as to high-density lines,
is particularly important for countries where ATP systems are
not yet widely deployed.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• When will ERTMS be ready?
ERTMS is already in commercial services worldwide in more
than 10 countries today and more countries are adopting it
everyday.
• What different levels of ETCS are there?
There are 3 levels of ETCS defined of which 2 are already in
operation (L1 & L2). The 3rd level, L3, is in a conceptual
phase.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• Can you upgrade from one ERTMS level to another?
Yes - Where ERTMS/ETCS is already installed, say level 1, to
upgrade to level 2 mainly involves the addition of the radio
network as the balises are already installed .
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• Will a certain rail administration be able to buy a product,
say Eurobalises, from any supplier or more than one
supplier?
Yes, because they follow the same specifications to achieve
interoperability. This is very important, especially for highly
competitive networks where different companies are involved.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• Will a train equipped with ERTMS in one country be able
to run on any track equipped with ERTMS worldwide?
Yes, this is the main purpose of ERTMS. Specifications have
been agreed by all suppliers and railway companies.
Therefore, all ERTMS trains and tracksides equipment are
interoperable.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• Can a certain rail administration run an ERTMS equipped
train on our current network?
Yes, providing that the said administration uses a Specific
Transmission Module (STM). However, it is recomended to
upgrade the network, saving costs and facilitating transit to all
ERTMS equiped trains.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• How do we cope with national specific requirements with a
standard European product?
The ERTMS specifications have accounted for these and for
example with the Eurobalise, specific channels are reserved for
national specific use.
• Can we increase the number of trains on our line?
Yes, ERTMS offers the possibility to introduce higher-speed
services, to decrease headways and to increase the number of
connections.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• Will ERTMS reduce journey times?
Yes, ERTMS offers this possibility. It is designed for operation
up to 500 km/h. The current maximum commercial speed
achieved by trains being about 350 km/h.
• Will it reduce our operational costs?
Yes, there is a strong opportunity to improve both OPEX
(Operating Expenditure) and CAPEX (Capital Expenditure)
and thereby improve life cycle cost.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• Will ERTMS be accepted as a standard globally?
ERTMS have been developed in Europe. Nevertheless, its
benefits have been recognised and accepted by many railway
networks around the world. ERTMS has proved efficient in
solving network problems.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• Why is ERTMS it needed?
The main driver for ERTMS, in the context of the European
Railway Network, is cross-border interoperability. The
implementation of a common signalling system will remove
barriers to trade and seamless cross-border railway operations.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• Who has sponsored the development of the standards and
the specifications?
The European Railway supply Industry, The European
Commission, the Railway Undertakings and the Infrastructure
Managers.
• Which suppliers are involved?
The suppliers for ETCS are the 6 Union Industry of Signalling
(UNISIG) companies: Alstom Transport, Ansaldo STS,
Bombardier Transportation, Invensys Rail Group, Siemens
Mobility and Thales.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• How has the specification been generated and developed?
When did it start?
The first initiative started in the early 90's to specify a
common system with several organisations within the Railway
Industry sector involved and the contribution of the European
Union.
The current legally biding specifications (as defined in the TSI
Control, Command and Signalling) is an outcome of the
common effort by the 6 major European Signalling companies
under the umbrella of UNISIG.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• Who controls the specification standards and maintains all
aspects for interoperability?
This is the responsibility of the European Railway Agency
(ERA).
• How can changes to the specification be introduced?
A change control process operated by ERA exists.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• What are the commercial advantages achieved from
introducing ERTMS?
The main advantages with the implementation of ERTMS are:
- interoperability between networks,
- reduced maintenance costs,
- increased competition among providers,
- higher speed,
- no cross border problems and
- reduced bottlenecks.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• What is the action plan to introduce ERTMS? Who else
needs to be involved or to participate?
Every European Country have generated an ERTMS Migration
Plan. Several countries are already quite advanced in terms of
ERTMS implementation.
The European Commission is considering an EU-wide
ERTMS deployment plan.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• Does the EC continue to support the introduction of
ERTMS and how?
Yes. The European Union, through the mechanisim of the
TEN-T programme, Structural and Regional Funds and
Cohesion Funds support the development of ERTMS.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• What other infrastructure improvements need to made at
the same time to achieve optimised operational
performance?
Depending on the condition and age of the lines, a variety of
infrastructure including: interlockings, track-detection,
communication systems including GSM-R, etc.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• What involvement does the EC have in extending the
introduction of ERTMS (corridors, freight, new EC
accession territories)?
As said earlier, the European Union, through the mechanisim
of the TEN-T programme, Structural and Regional Funds and
Cohesion Funds supports the development of ERTMS.
In addition, a European ERTMS Coordinator has been
appointed to ensure the successful deployment of system.
Last but not least, the EU has initiated the creation of the six
ERTMS corridors, and is now considering an EU-wide
deployment plan.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• What longer term national benefits can be expected
following ERTMS implementation?
Factors surrounding the quality of life should be enhanced
(Power consumption, noise, polution, social costs). By making
the rail sector more competitive, ERTMS helps to level the
playing field with road transport and ultimately provides
significant environmental gains.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• Is it really possible to take away the track-side light
signals?
Signals are no longer needed because there are other means for
controlling the trains' speed and position. We can even say that
ERTMS is safer as light signals at the speed of 350 km/h
cannot be safely interpreted.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• ERTMS and Bulgaria: Case study
- The National ERTMS Deployment Plan is oriented towards
creation of a modern and competitive railway network whereas
full capacity of information and communication technologies
is used with the purpose of effective traffic management to be
reached.
- Quickness, simultaneousness and completeness upon
realization which may be treated as a strategic priority, and
may also lead to a maximum return under consideration of a
longer period of time.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
- The intents of the Republic of Bulgaria for implementation
ERTMS/ETCS are represented within the frame of the Plan.
- The choice has been made on the grounds of a preliminary
cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and the railway infrastructure
projects proposed for the period 2007 – 2013 under the
Sectoral Operational Programme on Transport (SOPT).
- The basic parameters are: time horizon; improvement of
capacity after implementation of the selected type of
ERTMS/ETCS; percentage of average increase of traffic on
annual basis; results of costs-benefit analysis and investments
needed.
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
• The National Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria for
introduction of ERTMS (December 2010)
Interoperability as a key to a European network: the ERTMS
Thank you for your attention!
George Popov
State expert
Republic of Bulgaria
Ministry of Transport, Information Technology
and Communication
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel.: +359 2 940 94 96