Possibilities for tracking and tracing trains are already available throughout Europe. All relevant information concerning a train run must be made available digitally and exchanged between all partners. This shall include information about the daily timetable, train tracking and tracing information as well as reliable forecasting information. These data have already been combined with train composition to capture locomotive, wagon and - possibly in the future - container movements. All information is based on common reference data (Digital Train Information) and must include information about the first and last mile, such as terminals and other railway facilities.
An intense collaboration between RU’s, IM’s, terminals, and all others involved stakeholders around train operations, as well as a data-driven approach are needed to evolve towards the optimal operational management of transport. Data coming from the IM’s (train running data, ETA data, train numbers and their linking at the border, punctuality data) and from the RU’s (terminal data, train composition data, GPS data) must be combined to deliver to the end-users all information concerning the train run. UIC (via the Rail Freight Forum which unites Freight RU’s) and RNE will engage in a collaboration and investigate how to unite the operational data in the field of Digital Train Information. Some messages, such as TrainComposition must be enhanced with additional elements, like the ILU number (International Loading Unit), to enable the tracking of containers as well.
The link to EU Rail Joint Undertaking is very important. EU JU plans to optimise the information flows between the CCS (Control Command and signalling Systems) and the TMS systems to get the most accurate information on the train run (speed, de- or acceleration, precise localisation,) to improve traffic management and to pave the way towards ATO (Automatic Train Operation) and the reduction of energy consumption. The scope of real-time information and data sharing should be extended to the full transport system (end-to-end).
The TAF and TAP TSI legal frameworks will define the information exchange.
Deliverables completed in 2021/22:
- Implementing Train Composition Information (TCM) in TIS
- Linking TCM to train run information (mapping between HEMES 30 V2 and TAF TSI TCM)
- Linking of trains based on TCM
- Including and measuring ETAs from different suppliers
- Including first and last mile information (Mapping between EDIGES and TAF TSI messages)
- Including a possible view of trains and wagons
- Providing distance information for trains and wagons
- Increasing the number of participants to include TCM information
- Increasing the participation of terminals
- WagonPerformance Message to report the milage of wagons
Outlook 2023:
- Elaboration of a scenario of collaboration between ERA and UIC in the field of the Digital Train Information
- Further improving the calculation of ETA
- Including and sharing with a clearly defined governance model all information based on trains, wagons, containers and forecast information with involved partners
- Processing of GNSS/GPS information to fill up information gaps, where no train information is available
- Developing a particular TAF message to record, process and display the last position of a moving object, e.g. a container, wagon or locomotive
- Optimising TIS to support the railway sector in managing its logistical chains, human resources and technical equipment