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The Common Interface: A Vital Tool for Seamless Railway Interoperability

28 January 2025

     RNE Applications     CCS     The Common Interface: A Vital Tool for Seamless Railway Interoperability

The Common Interface (CI) is one of the three elements of the Common Components System (CCS) that ensures the seamless interoperability of European railway traffic. This technical tool facilitates interoperable TAF/TAP TSI message exchanges and is designed for easy installation on the user’s premises. Widely adopted in the railway sector, it plays a significant role within RailNetEurope (RNE). RNE utilises the CI for its core systems, such as the Train Information System (TIS) and the Path Coordination System (PCS), where millions of messages are exchanged daily.

Development and Transformation

The improvement process for the Common Interface (CI) began in 2023 with the selection of Capgemini Consulting Österreich AG as the new supplier. The development phase spanned the entire year of 2023 and 2024, involving a complete reimplementation from scratch to address functional and security concerns. This transformative journey included significant milestones such as the release of preview versions and user acceptance testing throughout 2024. The project reached completion and acceptance in early 2025, with the new CI now available for use in test environments.

RailNetEurope (RNE) is currently working with the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) to obtain the TAF/TAP TSI compliance certificate, expected by 31 March 2025, after which the CI can be used in production environments as well.

Introducing Common Interface Version 3.0.3

The release of the New Common Interface Version 3.0.3 on 15 January 2025 represents a significant milestone in the CCS renewal initiative. This version addresses long-standing challenges while introducing major improvements to functionality, security, and user experience.

Key Updates in Version 3.0.3

The completely renewed Common Interface introduces several major enhancements, including:

  • Enhanced Application Architecture: Supports horizontal scaling in high availability environments.
  • User Interface Improvements: Delivers a better user experience.
  • Security Upgrades: Implements an advanced security layer for all connectors.
  • Expanded Database Compatibility: Supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle databases.
  • Improved application deployment and operation and more.

All CCS users holding a CI licence can access the release package and supporting documentation free of charge by contacting our Service Desk at support.ci@rne.eu.

Release Plan and Next Steps

Further steps in the release of the New Common Interface include:

Need Additional Information?

Download detailed information about the New Common Interface Release, including release notes, new functions, and product support enhancements.

Download more Information here

Have additional questions? Book a personal meeting with the CI Team.

Book a Meeting

Upgrade your Support Service

To ensure your business operates at peak performance, we have enhanced our user support services within CCS to better meet our customers’ needs:

  • Ticket Tool Support: All services are now exclusively powered by RNE’s ticket tool.
  • Tailored Assistance: Silver and Gold Package subscribers benefit from personalised support to ensure optimal business operations.

Each Common Interface licence comes with the Basic Package automatically included at no extra cost – no need for a subscription.

For enhanced features, Bronze/Silver/Gold Packages are available for independent purchase alongside your CCS licence.

Order your Update Package Today