UIC issues two FRMCS specifications
The International Union of Railways (UIC) has released two important specifications related to the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS), the successor of GSM-R. They are about the requirements for the on-board equipment and its...Read more
Vectron locomotive approved for ETCS Baseline 3
Siemens Mobility has authorised its popular Vectron locomotive for operations with the European Train Control System (ETCS) Baseline 3. The approval has been issued by Germany’s Federal Railway Authority (EBA) for haulage services within Germany....Read more
ERA authorises 1,500 vehicles for operations across Europe
European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) has reported the first results after the implementation of new EU legislation in the rail sector on 16 June. During the first 100 days, the European institution received 183...Read more
NMBS has no plans for its own Three Countries Train
For a number of years, Dutch and Belgian authorities, rail operators and rail infrastructure managers have been discussing an international rail connection between four cities in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. Until the Dutch trains...Read more
ERA issues first vehicle authorisation
The European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) has issued the first vehicle authorisation for operations across Europe. The historic document was delivered in three weeks after ERA becoming European authorising entity for rail traffic in...Read moreEurope makes major step to single rail market
European Union has made a major step towards the single rail market. On 16 June, the EU Agency for Railways (ERA) has taken responsibility for vehicle authorisation, safety certification, and ERTMS trackside approval. This rule...Read more
ERA survey: rail freight sector not ready for 4th Railway Package
When asked whether people were aware of the changes that will be introduced from June 2019 with the implementation of the 4th Railway Package, half of the respondents answered negatively. The survey was carried out...Read more
EU coordinator: ERTMS roll-out too slow and too expensive
The roll out of the European safety system ERTMS is happening much too slowly and costing too much money. A shift in mentality is required, in which the sector adopts flexibility and prepares for change...Read more
RailTech Europe 2017 – Day One review
The Dutch city of Utrecht played host on Day One of RailTech Europe 2017, which attracted hundreds of railway professionals from across Europe. The theme for the first day’s presentations was the European Rail Traffic...Read more
Karel Vinck: ‘No reason’ freight trains should not be 700 metres
The European Railways Agency’s Karel Vinck says there is no reason why all freight trains should not be the 700 metre-long version as an effective roll-out of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) will...Read more
ProRail researching ‘hybrid ERTMS Level 3’ version
ProRail, together with Network Rail and SNCF, is currently looking at the possibility of using a ‘hybrid ERTMS Level 3’ version on the track. Live testing is expected to start on a track owned by...Read more
Automatic data reporting tackles EU cultural barriers
Cultural differences between how different EU countries record and interpret ‘events’ on the freight network can be tackled – and with it safety levels enhanced – through automatic reporting systems. That’s the view of the...Read more