Operations and Performances
Operations Route Compatibility ChecksOperations
Objective
Interoperability of rail operations and traffic management across Europe is crucial for the safety of passenger and freight trains, in particular for cross border services. The EU aims to achieve interoperability in this domain via the implementation of the Technical Specifications for Interoperability for Operation and Traffic Management (TSI OPE) (Regulation (EU) 2019/773). TSI OPE sets the responsibilities between Rail Infrastructure Managers (IMs) and Railway Undertakings (RUs) regarding the operations and traffic management (e.g. train composition issues, on-board equipment failures, emergency evacuation, pre-departure checklists tests, written orders, degraded working and management of emergency situations).
EIM in action
- EIM’s OPE Working Group deals with all interfaces between IMs and RUs, notably the definition of communication principles and procedures and the design of new forms of safety-related information;
- EIM OPE experts participate actively in the corresponding EU Agency for Railways (ERA) Working Parties, including the ‘ERTMS Operational Harmonisation Working Party’.
2019
- EIM experts contributed to the drafting of the TSI OPE Application Guide and gave comments on the TSI OPE revision, including parameters needed for the route compatibility between a vehicle and the infrastructure;
- The TSI OPE revision was approved in April 2019;
- The OPE WG continued to work on the revision of operational harmonisation rules.
Outlook 2020
- The increasing interaction between operational processes and Automatic Train Operations (ATO) will be closely monitored and coordination will be ensured when necessary;
- EIM will contribute to the drafting of the TSI OPE Application Guide;
- EIM will be part of a new ERA Working Party ‘TSI OPE Acceptable Means of Compliance’
EC Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/773
Route Compatibility Checks
Facts & context
Before a Railway Undertaking (RU) operates a wagon or locomotive on a specific line, it is required to check that this vehicle is compatible with the relevant route. Articles 21 and 23 of Directive (EU) 2016/797 on Interoperability introduce the process for obtaining authorisation of a vehicle for an area of use and the ‘Route Compatibility Checks’ that must be done to ensure route compatibility before the authorised vehicle(s) can be used. The Technical Specifications for Interoperability on Operations (TSI OPE), Appendix D1 further defines the requirements the RUs have to check.
EIM in action
- EIM experts are involved in the relevant European Commission and EU Agency for Railways (ERA) committees when drafting and defining the parameters needed for the route compatibility.
2019
- EIM contributed to the drafting of the TSI OPE Application Guide and the TSI OPE Appendix D1 on ‘Route Compatibility’;
- EIM experts were involved in the ad-hoc ERA subgroups and the European Commission Expert Groups related to route compatibility;
- The TSI OPE revision was voted in April 2019;
- EIM exchanged with all Member States that transposed the 4th Railway Package in June 2019.
Outlook 2020
- EIM will follow-up the application of the 4th Railway Package, notably the implementation of Articles 21 and 23;
- EIM will continue its dialogue with those Member States that will transpose the 4th Railway Package in June 2020.
