High-Level Deployment Group Holds Inaugural Meeting

On 13 February 2025, the Europe’s Rail (EU-Rail) High-Level Deployment Group held its first official meeting. While the group initiated its activities in 2024, it has now been formalised following the decision by the European Commission on 29 November 2024 (C(2024) 8368), which endorsed its composition under the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking framework.

Bridging Innovation and Implementation

The railway sector is continuously striving to implement new technologies in a more efficient, cost-effective, and streamlined manner. Beyond research and innovation, successful deployment depends on key factors such as migration strategies, funding availability, and political considerations. The Deployment Group, which meets three times a year, serves as the sector’s platform to address these challenges, with the mission to bridge the gap between innovation and practical implementation.

Leadership and Governance

During this inaugural meeting, Monika Heiming, Executive Director of the European Rail Infrastructure Managers (EIM), was appointed as Chair. She is supported by the European Commission and EU-Rail as Co-Chairs. The session also established essential governance elements, including the adoption of the Rules of Procedure and the alignment with the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) Stakeholder Group. Additionally, a procedure on how to form dedicated subgroups to focus on specific deployment areas was decided.

Focused Efforts on FRMCS Deployment

A dedicated subgroup for European Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) deployment was already established last year. This subgroup is structured into a management team and three Working Groups, focusing on:

• Technical Deployment Activities
• Legal and Financial Topics
• Migration and Alignment Strategies

These teams have now formalised their responsibilities and are actively working on:

• Assessing the current state of telecommunications and implementation plans across EU Member States and organisations.
• Conducting financial, legal, capacity, and crossborder analyses to develop a comprehensive migration toolbox and set of recommendations.
• Aligning deployment strategies with existing technical railway developments.

The European FRMCS Deployment Group’s scope extends beyond research and use integrating insights from UIC specifications, ERA technical opinions, national migration plans, and other relevant studies. It aims to provide recommendations for the High-Level Deployment Group, but also for Member States and railway operators to facilitate smoother implementation and coordination with wider technical developments.

Join the Deployment Group

The High-Level Deployment Group remains open to sector participation. You are interested in joining the Deployment Group? Please find more details here: