Topic: ETCS

Open discussion Signalling is not the only lever. Why operational innovation can’t wait for ERTMS

Decades of debate about signalling systems have framed rail’s capacity crisis as an infrastructure problem. But the internet taught us that the most transformative capacity…
Cheaper and more advanced options Why decades-old ETCS is not the optimal solution for European rail capacity bottlenecks

Signalling systems are essential to ensure safe train operations, but they are also key to enable optimal capacity use on railway lines. Almost half a…
Interview How does Belgium manage its rail network, now that it is fully equipped with ETCS?

In December 2025, the Belgian rail infrastructure manager Infrabel announced the full implementation of the train control system ETCS along its mainline network. A real…
Slow progress Data of the week: ETCS and electrification move at a snail’s pace in Germany

In the last days of 2025, the German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) published its annual rail market report. RailFreight.com discussed some aspects of the findings…
6,400 kilometres Belgium announces full ETCS deployment across the entire rail network

Belgium has achieved a major milestone in the modernisation of its rail network. Infrastructure manager Infrabel and the consortium consisting of Siemens Mobility and Equans…
EUROPEAN TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM Railpool, Alstom and Captrain to run ETCS L2 tests

New tests for the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 are underway in northern Italy. The initiative is led by Railpool, Alstom and Captrain…
rules are too strict UNISIG proposes solutions to ETCS ‘double braking’ issue

The deployment of the European Train Control System (ETCS) might lead to some capacity restrictions due to unnecessarily strict regulations on train stopping distances. New…
WAITING FOR ETCS Lineas to use first modular multi-signalling locomotive

Belgian private rail freight operator Lineas worked with The Signalling Company (TSC), part of the Škoda Group, to deploy a locomotive that can host multiple…
ERTMS ERA approves ETCS onboard system for Alstom TRAXX Universal locomotives

The European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) has approved the newest version of the ETCS onboard system of Alstom’s TRAXX Universal locomotives. The decision means…
Workhorses go digital DB Cargo UK begins ETCS fleet fitment

DB Cargo UK has begun fitting the European Train Control System (ETCS) to its workhorse Class 66 freight locomotives. The programme started this week at…
ETCS DEPLOYMENT UK’s iconic High Speed Train lives on for freight and infrastructure operations

It is a landmark year for Britain’s railway heritage. Now, 200 years after passenger services started, work is underway to future-proof one of the country’s…
focus on etcs New CEF funds assigned, what’s in it for rail freight?

The European Union is going to distribute roughly 2,8 billion euros among 94 transport projects through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). The rail sector is…