Rail Facilities Portal Maintenance & Development

Acronym: 838215-RFP Maintenance

Project Summary

RNE has bought the Portal in 2020 and is currently managing it with the support of UIRR. RNE has applied and the European Commission has awarded two grants for the management and
maintenance and the further development of the Portal. These activities will ensure that the Portal provides the functionalities required to serve its purpose and attract new users.
Specifically, the funding action covers:

• Preparing the technical requirements for the development of dedicated interfaces for exchange of information with databases or IT tools (portals) containing data on service facilities and/or involve the use of alternative technological solutions (such as Linked Data) that would provide the same outcome;
• Studying and preparing technical requirements for the development of data exchange and, where possible, data integration between the Portal and Commission-run rail-related tools and in particular the Register for infrastructure (RINF);
  Setting up a governance board involving a full range of stakeholders that will decide on strategic and operational issues.
• Setting up a technical control board that would develop functional and technical specification for future software development and advise the governance board and RNE.
  Preparing and carrying out consultations with sector stakeholders on the software development via a governance board and other appropriate means (technical working groups, e.g.);
• providing support to Portal users (including by a helpdesk), management of Portal user registration, of data provided by Portal users, in particular descriptions of rail facilities and related rail services;
• cooperation projects, including drafting and signing of agreements of exchange of data with third parties (e.g., service facility operators);
• conferences, seminars used to advertise the services of the Portal;
• awareness and dissemination actions to advertise the service of the Portal;
• studies, analyses, mapping projects, technical specifications, related to the development of the Portal;
• software development and maintenance to the extent necessary to maintain and run the European Rail Facilities Portal, as long it is not funded by another EU action;
• Development of dedicated interfaces for exchange of static information with databases or IT tools (portals) containing data on service facility description and/or involve the use of alternative technological solutions (such as Linked Data) that would provide the same outcome;
• Developing software that would allow for a high level of automation of the data exchange and possibly, data integration between the Portal and Commission-run rail-related tools and in particular the Register of infrastructure web-based application (RINF Application) and RNE CRD, in particular for automated link of the rail facilities to operational points in RINF Linking the Portal to the register;
• Connecting/integrating information or services provided by RNE’s Train Information System, Customer Information Platform or Charging Information System and automated exchange/update of the information to/in the Portal to the extent possible;
• Developing multi-language versions of the Portal’s interface.
• Additional functionalities that have been consulted with rail stakeholders in the Governance Board of the Portal.
• The above list is not exhaustive, because further functionalities or software improvements can be proposed by the sector representatives or by users of the Portal at any time. They will be developed only if approved by the Governance Board of the Portal or if they are essential to the functioning of the Portal or for its management.
• RNE will coordinate the detailed schedule for the developments mentioned above and any new software changes with the Commission and consult stakeholders through the Portal’s Governance Board.

Participants

RailNetEurope (RNE)

Project Duration

The eligibility period for this project is from 01/2021-02/2023.

Project Volume

Total Investment Volume: 650,000 EUR

Max EU-Contribution: 650,000 EUR (100%)