ETCS/GSM-R
What is ETCS?
The ETCS is a European and automatic safety system which significantly decreases the chances to pass a red signal and improves the capacity of the railway line by guiding and monitoring of the trains speeds and position. For proper operation, the infrastructure and the train must be equipped with ETCS. In addition, implementing such a system on multiple railway networks will also contribute to the interoperability of the international trains between European countries.
ETCS in Belgium
This safety and capacity increase system is already deployed on most of the Belgian high-speed lines but is now being implemented on the national conventional railway network in Belgium. In doing so, Infrabel and TUC RAIL are amongst the pioneers in adopting this European ETCS system nationwide and networkwide.
In Belgium, we have 3 levels of ETCS: ETCS level 2, ETCS level 1 Full Supervision and ETCS 1 Limited Supervision. The ETCS level 2 works with the GSM-R network and both ETCS levels 1 (LS/FS) with Eurobalises placed on the tracks.
For the moment, Belgium’s neighboring countries are not all equipped in ETCS. It is therefore important to find a temporary solution between the different systems in collaboration with the others railway infrastructure managers.
TUC RAIL’s mission
TUC RAIL works in an integrated manner together with the teams of the Belgian railway infrastructure manager Infrabel on the implementation of the 3 different levels of ETCS and the transition projects in Belgium. TUC RAIL’s assignments include project management, preliminary studies, detailed design, works supervision, data preparation, testing & commissioning.
