The European rail sector is preparing for a fundamental transformation in the way railway capacity is planned, coordinated and allocated.

The recently published Capacity Regulation aims to create a more harmonised, transparent and market-oriented framework for capacity management across Europe, supporting growing demand for rail transport and strengthening international rail connectivity.

Achieving these objectives requires not only new business processes but also a new generation of digital tools capable of supporting increased cross-border cooperation, data exchange and planning complexity.

New Capacity Planning Tool to meet sector challenges

RNE’s recently launched Capacity Planning Tool (CPT) is one of the key applications supporting this transformation.

It enables stakeholders to create, maintain and analyse capacity information using one common European platform, providing the operational foundation for managing capacity products throughout the planning process.

Supporting harmonised capacity planning across the sector

As the future Network Coordinator, RailNetEurope (RNE) is supporting the sector’s transition through a comprehensive IT strategy designed to enable the implementation of Capacity Regulation processes. The strategy focuses on creating an integrated digital ecosystem that connects stakeholders, harmonises data and supports coordinated planning activities throughout the European railway network.

In capacity planning, RNE’s digital ecosystem aims to support Infrastructure Managers (IMs) through

• improving the coordination of capacity planning activities
• better visibility of international capacity products
• reducing manual effort and administrative burden.

For Railway Undertakings (RUs) and other applicants, these solutions provide

• greater transparency of available capacity
• easier access to planning information and
• more predictable planning outcomes.

Capacity Planning Tool: Key Features

By providing a shared planning environment, CPT helps IMs and applicants work with the same information, reducing misunderstandings and supporting more predictable planning outcomes.

CPT supports stakeholders by enabling them to:

• create and manage Temporary Capacity Restrictions (TCRs), Capacity Model Objects (CMOs), Capacity Needs Announcements (CNAs), Intended Capacity Lines (ICLs), Catalogue Paths (CPs) and Paths (PAs)
• visualise capacity information through charts and map-based views, making complex planning data easier to understand and analyse
• harmonise capacity products across national borders and international corridors
• support collaboration between stakeholders through observation and feedback mechanisms, allowing applicants to provide comments and insights during the planning process
• exchange and maintain consistent data across the European railway network

Supporting CR implementation through continued development

CPT plays a key role by enabling stakeholders to manage planning-related capacity products and supporting coordinated decision-making across the network.

Current development activities focus on:

• expanding support for Capacity Regulation business processes
• improving usability and stakeholder experience
• enhancing data quality and validation mechanisms
• strengthening interoperability with other RNE applications
• supporting pilot activities and sector readiness initiatives

These developments are helping prepare the sector for the gradual implementation of Capacity Regulation requirements.

An essential tool for the Capacity Regulation

As Europe moves towards a more coordinated and digitally enabled capacity management framework, CPT will play an increasingly important role in helping stakeholders plan, coordinate and utilise railway capacity across borders. Over the coming months and years, RNE will further enhance CPT to support evolving business processes and regulatory requirements. Close collaboration with IMs, applicants and other sector stakeholders remains essential. Through continuous development, testing and user feedback, RNE is ensuring that CPT evolves into a robust and future-ready solution that supports the objectives of the Capacity Regulation and strengthens international railway capacity management across Europe.