Interoperability of telematic applications for freight of the rail system in the EU

KEY POINTS

Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs)

• Interoperability means the ability of a rail system to allow the safe and uninterrupted movement of trains meeting the required levels of performance.
• TSIs define the technical and operational standards which must be met by each subsystem or part of subsystem to meet the essential requirements and ensure the interoperability of the EU railway system.
• For each subsystem, the essential requirements need to be specified and the technical specifications determined, particularly in respect of parts and interfaces, in order to meet those essential requirements.
• Essential requirements include:
  • safety;
  • reliability and availability;
  • health;
  • environmental protection;
  • technical compatibility;
  • accessibility.

Telematic applications for freight services

• The telematic applications subsystem for both passenger and freight services are defined in Directive 2008/57/EC (see summary on Ensuring the compatibility of EU rail systems).
• Directive (EU) 2016/798 repeals and replaces Directive 2008/57/EC from 16 June 2019 (see summary on EU-wide rail safety).
• Telematic applications for freight services include:
  • 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;
  • production of electronic accompanying documents.

Scope

The regulation covers:

• definition of subsystem and scope;
• essential requirements;
• characteristics of the subsystem;
• interoperability constituents;
• assessment of the conformity/suitability for use the constituents and a checks on the subsystem;
• implementation — carried out by the European Union Agency for Railways.

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/278 amends technical annexes (Annex D2 to Appendix E) of the regulation concerning

• the structure of the messages exchanged between Railway Undertakings and Infrastructure Managers;
• the data and message model;
• the metadata of the Wagon and Intermodal Unit Operating Database; and
• defines the IT standard for the communication layer of the Common Interface¹ used to exchange messages between the above-mentioned operators (Railway Undertakings and Infrastructure Managers).