The introduction of a uniform train control system for Europe is extremely complex, very protracted and only difficult to implement from purely business management aspects in view of the high investment involved. In contrast to the aviation sector which has always operated along international lines, as far as the railways are concerned, for decades each individual country has seen the emergence and on-going further development of its own technical systems implemented according to national criteria.

ERTMS is the European approach to the highly heterogeneous status of equipment for control and command technology in Europe. ERTMS aims for simplification and harmonisation. Continuous installation of ERTMS along the whole corridor together with the train control system ETCS is a crucial element for interoperability. Here the Rotterdam-Genoa corridor plays a pioneering role as the corridor with by far the largest transport volume in Europe. As the first of the six corridors, Corridor A is to be fitted completely with ERTMS by 2015, insofar as the member states can provide the funding required. On those sections of the line where the system has already been installed (HST Olten - Rotstetten/Mattrist, Lötschberg Tunnel, Betuweline Kijfhoek - Zevenaar, Maasflakte harbour line), it has achieved a level of reliability and performance capability that makes it suitable for sections of line with mixed traffic and higher loads.

Furthermore, uniform traction power supply is also the basis for interoperability to eliminate the need for the time-consuming procedures involved in changing locomotives at the borders. Moreover, the fundamental operational regulations are being analysed, summarised and, wherever possible, simplified and harmonised.

Technical equipment

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Business Relevance for Rail Cargo