The European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) is a signalling and management system, which will enable interoperability on the European rail network. It integrates a new control-command system with a new radio system for voice and data communication.
Telematics applications for freight and passenger services
Telematics applications are a functional subsystem of the EU rail system. This subsystem comprises two elements:
- applications for passenger services (TAP), including systems providing passengers with information before and during the journey, reservation and payment systems, luggage management and management of connections between trains and with other modes of transport;
- applications for freight services (TAF), including information systems (real-time monitoring of freight and trains), marshalling and allocation systems, reservation, payment and invoicing systems, management of connections with other modes of transport and production of electronic accompanying documents.
Both of these have been formally approved and they are based on functional and technical standards (TSI – technical specification for interoperability) defining the exchange of harmonised data between rail infrastructure managers, railway undertakings and other stakeholders (such as ticket vendors).
Legislation
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 454/2011 on the technical specification for interoperability relating to the subsystem ‘telematics applications for passenger services’ of the trans-European rail system
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 62/2006 concerning the technical specification for interoperability relating to the telematic applications for freight subsystem of the trans-European conventional rail system