Switzerland rolls out new ERTMS plan
The Swiss Federal Office of Transport (FOT) updated the country’s strategy for the deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS). The new programme focusses on implementing cab-signalling with European Train Control System (ETCS)...Read more
New funds for ERTMS implementation in the Netherlands, but is it enough?
The European Commission (EC) has amended the Dutch scheme to implement ERTMS on with an additional injection of 21 million euros. With these new funds, the current budget for this initiative is 67 million euros,...Read more
Rhine-Alpine Corridor: what to expect with the coming upgrades
analysisThe Rhine-Alpine Corridor is one of the backbones of the European Union when it comes to transportation services. This is especially true for rail freight since the corridor connects two of the largest European ports,...Read more
Taxing motorways to finance rail infrastructure? SNCF CEO says yes
To finance the 100-billion-euro plan announced last month by French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, SNCF CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou insists that “all accessible sources of funding must be used”. He even proposes taxing motorways and airports...Read more
The Netherlands and Belgium are neighbours yet so far in ERTMS rollout
Belgium prides itself that 52 per cent, or 3,333 kilometres, of its national railway network, is equipped with ETCS. Across the border in the Netherlands, by contrast, ‘only’ four lines are currently under ERTMS. Indeed,...Read more
Skoda to retrofit 110 Lineas locomotives with ETCS
Skoda has recently acquired the majority of shares in The Signalling Company (TSC) from Lineas and ERMTS Solutions, a company specialising in railway testing. One of the projects picked up by the company is to...Read more
German wagon keepers: rail modernisation needs to speed up
Modernisation of rail in Germany needs to go faster. That includes the modernisation of infrastructure, investments in the European Train Control System (ETCS) and the introduction of digital automatic couplers (DAC) to counteract the shortage...Read more
Digital 66 about to revolutionise UK East Coast freight operations
EXCLUSIVEThe first freight locomotive has entered fitting out with an advanced digital communications package, necessary for the step-change upgrade to the prestige London – Scotland main line. Rail freight operator DB Cargo UK and technology...Read more
‘ERTMS deployment is stuck in a vicious circle’
The on-board rollout of ETCS is behind schedule because operators have little incentive to invest in the system when they can still run on class-B systems, says Marcin Wojcik, Policy Officer at the European Commission...Read more
French Europorte invests with Beacon in ETCS technology
Europorte, the rail freight subsidiary of Getlink (formerly Eurotunnel), is modernising its fleet of Euro4000 locomotives by investing in ETCS (European Train Control System) rail signalling technology, a move designed to support the growth of...Read more
New locomotive leasing company on the market
Nexrail will focus on providing innovative, sustainable locomotives for non-electrified operations, and is currently dedicated to the freight and shunting markets. It has purchased 53 shunting locomotives, and ordered another 50 hybrid locomotives hybrid from...Read more
Alpha Trains upgrades Traxx locomotives with ETCS
Alpha Trains will upgrade 77 of its locomotives with ETCS train equipment for Baseline 3 Release 2 (B3R2). The upgrade is part of a broader upgrade program that replaces the current train safety system (ATB)...Read moreDB Cargo equips locomotives with Alstom’s ETCS technology
DB Cargo agreed with Alstom to equip thirteen freight locomotives with the ETCS signalling standard technology. They will use Alstom’s Atlas ETCS Baseline 3 Release 2 solution, which complies with the latest European standards for...Read more
Rail freight 2017 & ahead – by ERFA’s Julia Lamb
To say it’s been a challenging year for the rail freight sector, not least in Europe, is an understatement. While the immediate effects of the Rastatt landslip in August were nothing short of an operational...Read more
ETCS retrofit for UK freight fleet
A highly efficient UK rail freight network is a step closer with the signing of a new deal to upgrade the nation’s freight trains with European Train Control System (ETCS) onboard technology. ETCS ensures that trains...Read more
Funding starts for ETCS equipment Danish freight locomotives
From the 1st of October Danish freight operators can apply for the European funding scheme to install onboard ETCS equipment in their locomotives. They have until the 31st of October 2020 to submit their application,...Read more