The publication of the new Telematics TSI, alongside the Capacity Regulation, marks a major step towards a more coordinated and efficient European railway system. Together, they provide the legal and digital foundations to improve the planning, allocation, and management of railway capacity across borders.

However, to turn regulations into reality, it is also required to establish a shared understanding across the sector of how the new rules should be interpreted and applied in practice. To support this common understanding, RailNetEurope (RNE), in close cooperation with the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) and the Joint Sector Group (JSG), brought together the European Commission, sector representatives, and other key stakeholders for a dedicated workshop on 8 April to discuss implementation challenges and provide clarifications.

From Legal Framework to Practical Implementation

The Capacity Regulation is based on a sector‑driven vision to fundamentally improve capacity allocation in Europe, especially for international traffic. To make this vision operational, the Telematics TSI provides the common digital language needed to ensure that processes are implemented consistently across Europe.

At the workshop, participants recognised that early implementation is essential, but at the same time, that differences in interpretation during the transition from the former TAF and TAP TSIs to the new Telematics TSI had already emerged. These differences highlighted the need for open discussion, clarification and alignment among all parties before large‑scale implementation progresses further.

The meeting allowed for a pragmatic and constructive exchange, enabling participants to openly raise concerns, share perspectives and identify areas of common ground.

Participants confirmed the importance of interoperable, well‑aligned digital solutions based on common specifications, while also recognising the need to accommodate different stakeholder sizes and levels of digital maturity. Discussions highlighted the value of building on existing systems, supporting a smooth transition to future solutions, and ensuring clear and transparent governance for updates and improvements. 

Continuing the Dialogue

The workshop confirmed a broad convergence across the railway sector, ERA and the European Commission on the core interpretation of the Telematics TSI and its role in implementing the Capacity Regulation. While challenges remain, particularly around interoperability, governance and timelines, the discussions demonstrated a strong commitment to cooperation and shared problem‑solving.

Given the positive outcome, it was agreed that ERA will organise a follow‑up meeting in October to continue the dialogue and support the next steps of implementation. This ongoing collaboration will be essential to ensure that the Telematics TSI truly becomes the common digital language enabling a more efficient, interoperable and resilient European rail network.