Rail infrastructure managers agree to deploy ERTMS on key routes
A group of European rail infrastructure managers, including Getlink, HS1, SNCF-Réseau and Infrabel, have agreed to collaborate on the deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) on their networks.
The agreement was signed by Getlink chief corporate officer Michel Boudoussier, HS1 CEO Dyan Crowther, SNCF-Réseau president Patrick Jeantet and Infrabel CEO Luc Lallemand.
Under the initiative, the infrastructure managers will facilitate the deployment of the ERTMS on key rail routes connecting London, Paris and Brussels.
“The technology is to enhance interoperability and rail operations on the route, extend the work life of the existing systems, increase the capacity of the route and ensure higher safety.”
The technology is expected to enhance interoperability and rail operations on the route, extend the work life of the existing systems, increase the capacity of the route, as well as ensure higher safety.
The work requires close coordination between the rail infrastructure managers and a synchronised programme of development. For this reason, all four infrastructure managers agreed to develop a common strategy to carry out ERTMS deployment on key routes including the high-speed rail lines that connect London, Paris and Brussels.
Besides sharing their expertise, the infrastructure managers agreed for a uniformed technical system and to work under a common deployment schedule to complete the implementation.
The agreement will help to optimise the economies of scale, ultimately benefiting the operators and the passengers travelling on the routes.
A continuous communication-based signalling system, the ERTMS aims to enhance cross-border interoperability throughout Europe by implementing a single standard for railway signalling.
The routes linking London, Paris and Brussels are currently equipped with an analogue signalling system that will be replaced by the ERTMS.
