In the years ahead, the European train safety control system ERTMS will be introduced on more stretches of rail. Maintenance aspects are currently being overlooked in this context. Rob Redeker, technical consultant at Strukton Rail Consult, advocates a thorough approach.

Train safety control systems
Train safety control systems have been developed to prevent engine drivers from passing through red signals, causing accidents in the process. For example, the Netherlands introduced the Automatic Train Control (ATC) system. Around 20 different systems are used in other countries within Europe. The wide variety of systems causes serious problems for international train traffic. For example, the Thalys, which only traverses three different countries, has seven different systems on board. In order to prevent such problems in the future, the EU decided in 1993 that a standard European system was needed.

ERTMS
This new system is known as the European Rail Traffic Management System – ERTMS. Six sizeable international companies are responsible for producing the system. During the current run-up phase, different versions of the same system are still in use, which is of course causing complications. Expectations are that this situation will be resolved in the short term.

Our task
Taking stretches of track into operation is certainly an area that requires attention. At the same time, once the new system is up and running, it will be necessary to ensure that ERTMS keeps going for years without malfunction. A further complicating factor is that trains with ERTMS versions produced by different manufacturers must be able to operate on common stretches of track. These systems must of course be able to work with the ERTMS equipment in the tracks. As an independent maintenance service provider, Strukton Rail can play an important role in this respect. In fact, an integrated maintenance concept has been developed that can contribute towards creating successful cohesion within the European rail network. Rob Redeker published an article about this vision in the European Railway Review.