“Live” Trackside Approval for Riedbahn between Frankfurt a.M. and Mannheim, One of the Busiest Corridors in Germany

ERTMS trackside approval is a service introduced with the 4^th Railway Package to ensure the harmonised implementation of ERTMS and interoperability at European Union level, and as such is part of the 'authority' tasks of ERA.

The so-called Riedbahn is one of the busiest corridors in the German network with more than 300 regional, freight, and intercity trains passing daily. With a capacity utilisation of more than 150%, it was identified by DB InfraGO as one of the key bottlenecks to benefit from a general and complete overhaul - and the deployment of the ETCS Level 2 (set of specifications #2, System Version 2.0.) playing an important part in modernising the line, allowing for higher speeds, and more capacity.

"The modernisation of the Riedbahn is emblematic of DB InfraGO's commitment to modernise the German rail system, and as such, today's signature represents an important milestone on that journey", asserted ERA Executive Director Josef Doppelbauer.

Philip Nagl, CEO DB InfraGO, stated: "The Riedbahn project is of central importance to us, and we are glad we could achieve the ERTMS Trackside Approval well within the timeframe that was foreseen. We thank the ERA team for the good collaboration and communication."

The Riedbahn's TA was aptly celebrated in the framework of the small celebrations of ERA's 20^th anniversary at the EU stand in hall 27(511), with many invited guests, friends, and stakeholders, who jointly appreciated the Agency's journey from humble beginnings in 2004 as technical agency, to European authority with more than 7.500 vehicle authorisations, 258 safety certificates, and 19 ERTMS trackside approvals delivered since 2019.

Background information

About the EU Agency for Railways

The European Union Agency for Railways was established in Valenciennes in 2004, and has 200 employees representing more than 22 European Member States.

ERA has been providing EU Member States and the European Commission with technical assistance in the development and implementation of the Single European Railway Area. This comprises enhancing technical interoperability and harmonising rules, promoting simplified access for customers, developing a common approach to safety and safety culture, advising on telematics applications and ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System), monitoring National Safety Authorities and Notified Bodies and facilitating the exchange of information between the railway actors in Europe.

Since 16th June 2019 the EU Agency for Railways is mandated to issue single safety certificates and vehicle (type) authorisations valid in multiple European countries and to ensure an interoperable European Rail Traffic Management System.

About ERTMS Trackside Approval (TA)

In order to ensure the harmonised implementation of ERTMS and interoperability at Union level, an ERTMS trackside approval is requested to check that the technical solutions envisaged are fully compliant with the relevant Technical Specifications for Interoperability and are therefore fully interoperable.

The ERTMS trackside approval is part of the application file for an authorisation for placing in service trackside control-command and signalling subsystems, involving the European Train Control System (ETCS) and/or the Global System for Mobile Communications - Railway (GSM-R) equipment.

The ERTMS trackside approval applies to any call for tenders relating to ERTMS trackside equipment which are launched after 16 June 2019, or were launched before but have not been closed on that day.

More information: https://www.era.europa.eu/domains/applicants/applications-ertms-trackside-approval_en

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