GNSS is amongst the “game-changing” technologies for future digital and automated rail operations, acknowledged in a 2015 report from the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) on the longer-term perspective for the evolution of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) and the EU Parliament in its adopted report on railway safety and signalling from July 2021 also calls for a joint effort towards the introduction of GNSS in ERTMS. Three major railway operators in Europe – DBN, SBB and SNCF – endorse and support the efforts of the EU Parliament and propose a follow-up-project to the "Certifiable Localization Unit with GNSS in the railway environment” (CLUG) project to demonstrate the technological readiness of the CLUG Localisation On-Board (LOC-OB) System. In CLUG 2.0 (CLUG Demonstration of Readiness for Rail), the system architecture aims to complement the existing European Train Control System (ETCS) odometry system by using GNSS to enable absolute safe train positioning whilst also transforming the way of train localisation is done today by demonstrating a GNSS-based multi-sensor fusion architecture. To ensure that an enhanced on-board localization in ERTMS/ETCS using GNSS is interoperable, the technological readiness of the LOC-OB System shall be demonstrated in CLUG 2.0. To achieve its objectives, the consortium continues the work started in the first CLUG project, by improving the design of the safe functional architecture and validating it against the requirements defined by the operators. Ultimately, all thanks to an improved LOC-OB System for ERTMS, benefits such as increasing the line capacity, reducing headways between trains, reducing expenditure for rail infrastructure rollout can help reduce emissions, and accelerate the adoption of sustainable and smart mobility solutions that revolve around rail. LOC-OB can make rail transport more attractive, enhance the competitiveness of rail for citizens and businesses.

X2RAIL-4 is the 4th project of the Shift2Rail members in the IP2 “Advanced Traffic Management & Control Systems” domain and it aims to continue the research and development of key technologies within the following Technology Demonstrators (TDs): -Railway line capacity increase (ATO up to GoA4)–TD2.2 (WP3, WP4, WP5): Finalize the activities started in X2Rail-1 by completing the GoA2 Specification. Develop ATO GoA4 prototypes. Integrate and test Obstacle Detection devices and “environment sensors” in cooperation with IP5 TD5.1.3. -On-Board Train Integrity–TD2.5 (WP6, WP7): Finalize the activities started in X2Rail-2. Define, develop and test complete On-Board Train Integrity system prototypes able to be applied in every train typology (i.e. Passengers and Freight trains with wired and wireless communication). -Traffic Management Evolution–TD2.9 (WP8, WP9, WP10): Finalize the activities started in X2Rail-2. Define, develop and test various elements of a Traffic Management System platform. Define and design a communication platform (Integration Layer) using standardized data structures and processes to manage the Communication/Data exchange between different services/clients and supporting TMS applications connected to other multimodal operational systems. -Smart radio-connected all-in-all wayside objects–TD2.10 (WP11, WP12): Finalize the activities started in X2Rail-1.Develop, implement and validate technical demonstrator. Develop and test prototype providing data exchange between trackside equipment and signalling devices via wireless connection; reduction of required cabling; increase on the availability of Maintenance Data, reduction of maintenance costs; support to preventive maintenance.

According to the ERAccording to the ERA 2015 Report on ERTMS Longer Term Perspective, GNSS could prove a game changer for the European railway network by enabling a significant reduction of trackside equipment and by improving localisation performance. The conclusions of the STARS project have confirmed this potential. However, fusion with other sensors will be necessary to mitigate the known impact of local effects on GNSS performance. Capitalising on the achievements of EC and GSA funded projects, collaborating railway companies, i.e. SBB, DB and SNCF, would like to propose the project CLUG. This project will perform a mission analysis/needs identification and a preliminary feasibility study of an on-board localisation unit with the following characteristics: > failsafe on-board multi-sensor localisation unit consisting of a navigation core (IMU, tachometer, etc.) brought in reference using GNSS, track map and a minimal number of reference points; > on-board continuous localisation system that provides location, speed and other dynamics of the train; > operational and interoperable across the entire European rail network; > compatible with the current ERTMS TSI or with its future evolutions. To achieve its objectives,the CLUG's management and the design and development of the localization unit will follow agile processes taking into account former projects results – especially STARS – as well as observations resulting from new test campaigns. The CLUG consortium comprises railway companies (SNCF, DB Netz and SBB), railway signaling industries (CAF and Siemens), navigation specialists (Airbus Defense & Space, Naventik, FDC), a research institute (ENAC) and a certification expert (Navcert). Ultimately, this project is the key enabling technology for the future-proof development of train digitalisation and automation to respond to the increased mobility needs of all European citizen and goods by leveraging the train, a green safe and efficient means of transport.

The Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) will be the 5G worldwide standard for railway operational communications, conforming to European regulation as well as responding to the needs and obligations of rail organisations outside of Europe. The work on functional & technical requirements, specification & standardisation in 3GPP as well as regarding harmonised spectrum solutions is currently led by UIC, in cooperation with the whole railway sector. A major challenge is the update by European Railway Agency of the Technical Specifications for Interoperability of Control Command and Signalling (CCS TSI) by the end of 2022 with a full description of FRMCS with respect to interoperability functions. Therefore, the 5GRAIL project aims to verify the first set of FRMCS specifications and standards (FRMCS V1) by developing and testing prototypes of the FRMCS ecosystem. The validation of the latest available railway-relevant 5G specifications will be achieved through cross-border emulation trials covering significant portions of railway operational communication requirements and including the core technological innovations for rail expected from 5G release 16 and pre-release 17. The project will first define functional tests and then work towards the development and evaluation of prototypes, for both on-board and infrastructure, including vital (ETCS, ATO) and essential (voice specific services, TCMS and video) applications. Prototypes will be then tested in simulated and real environments, with pilots in labs and in the field rolled out in various European sites (France, Hungary and Germany), to ensure compliancy and validation for FRMCS specifications, standards and performance, and consequently guarantee the time to market for FRMCS deployments, planned for 2025 as per European timeline. 5GRAIL will finally deliver test report conclusions to potentially update FRMCS V1 specifications and to identify technical constraints related to implementation issues.

X2RAIL-2 represents the 2nd proposal of the Shift2Rail members in the IP2 “Advanced Traffic Management & Control Systems” domain. The pillar (IP2) challenge is to increase functionalities of the existing signalling and automation systems and related design and validation processes providing a more competitive, flexible, real-time, intelligent traffic management and decision support system, and maintaining backward compatibility to the existing European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) and especially its European Train Control System component (ETCS). The X2RAIL-2 project aims, according to the MAAP, to research and develop four selected key technologies to foster innovations in the field of railway signaling and automation systems within the following Technology Demonstrators (TDs): Fail-Safe Train Positioning (TD2.4) - To achieve a significant reduction of the use of traditional train detection systems by means of the attainment of an absolute and safe train positioning system based on a multi-sensor concept, where GNSS is the preferred technology. On-Board Train Integrity (TD2.5) - To achieve the safe On-board Train Integrity to allow the application of new signaling train separation concepts (e.g. Moving Block or Virtual Block) based on the train self -localization rather than on traditional train detection systems. Formal Methods (TD2.7) - To innovate and standardise processes and interfaces in the evolution phases of a signaling project (e.g.: design, implementation, test & commissioning, operation & maintenance) to rationalize the approach and to reduce time-to-market costs. Traffic Management Evolution (TD2.9) - To improve standardisation and integration of Traffic Management processes with the aim to achieve flexibility and scalability within the choice of functional service module managed by TMS. The X2RAIL-2 project aims at reaching TRL5/6 demonstrators.