Signalling
Signalling is a crucial element for train operations, as it enables trains to run safely on railway lines. Being guided, often at high speed, on fixed rails, trains are uniquely susceptible to collusions. In the XIXth Century, the lack of signalling equipment frequently led to accidents on railway lines – a situation that contrasts with nowadays’, where rail is recognised to be the safest means of transport.
Over time, signalling has come to evolve from a strictly safety-related feature to a possible way to increase line capacity and traffic. The highly-performant signalling systems available nowadays enable, for instance, to reduce headways between trains, and have become a key tool to improve performance and the overall competitiveness of the sector.
UNIFE member companies have developed expertise and know-how in the field of signalling equipment, which is largely dominated by European Companies.
In recent years, some signalling suppliers have developed the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), a high-performance signalling standard designed to gradually replace the more than twenty existing signalling systems in Europe. ERTMS, which has already proven to be a success story worldwide, considerably increases the competitiveness of the European railways (www.ertms.com).
Strategic/public affairs activities
Under the impulsion of the European Union, ERTMS has been developed jointly by the rail supply industry, the railways and the European Commission. The specifications are now developed by the European Railway Agency, in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders.
Whilst ERTMS provides considerable benefits, EU support plays a considerable role in deploying the system along the European railway network. Indeed, the full benefits of ERTMS – interoperability between projects and countries – is only reached when a critical mass of railway lines are equipped with this signalling system in Europe.
Through various means, such as funding, coordinated deployment plans, and cross-sector agreements, the EU plays a leading role in the roll-out of the system. The ERTMS suppliers, represented by UNIFE, have constant contact with the relevant bodies and policy-makers.
Technical activities
UNISIG, which is the ERTMS suppliers consortium, works on the ERTMS specifications together with the European Railway Agency. The current activities of UNISIG include in particular the development of the ERTMS Baseline 3, which is foreseen to be legalised in 2012.
Through its working groups, UNIFE and its members jointly discussed a number of elements related to signalling, ranging from purely technical topics (amendment of Technical Specifications for Interoperability) to market trends in the field of signalling equipment.
For further information, please contact
Emmanuel Brutin
Public Affairs Manager
+32 2 626 12 68
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