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On-board Train Integrity for Safer Rail Operations
Challenge
The growing digitalisation of rail operations requires reliable information about both train integrity and train length. This is particularly relevant for freight trains, where train composition and length can vary significantly, and for future ETCS Level 3 operations where onboard integrity monitoring can reduce the need for trackside train detection.
The solution
iSupported by Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail), this solution enables safe and reliable On-board Train Integrity (OTI), supporting the transition towards new signaling and train separation concepts.
The solution aims to achieve safe On-board Train Integrity, allowing the application of new signaling train separation concepts, such as Moving Block and Virtual Block. These concepts can deliver significant benefits in terms of increased capacity, shorter headways, reduced capital and maintenance costs, and reduced trackside infrastructure for block detection.
The solution consists of an OTI Master module located in the front cabin, an OTI Slave module located at train tail, and an onboard communication network. It provides the following functionality: train composition, head-tail communication, power supply, train tail status and verification of ETCS availability at the train tail.
Did you know?
Three OTI product classes have been defined using a modular approach respect to address different costs and functionalities.
- Class 1 is designed for trains with a wired communication network.
- Class 2 is defined for trains with a wireless communication network.
- Class 3 also determines the safe train length and requires OTI module to be installed on each wagon.
Maturity level
TRL 5-6 (solution ready for prototype testing in 2026).
Expected benefits
The solution offers a good perspective across all railway application domains, including mainline and high speed, urban and suburban, regional and freight lines.
Who benefits
Infrastructure managers
Railway operators
Suppliers
Conclusion
By providing safe and reliable On-board Train Integrity, the solution supports the adoption of advanced train separation concepts such as Moving Block and Virtual Block. This can enable shorter headways and increased capacity, while reducing the need for trackside infrastructure and contributing to lower capital and maintenance costs.
With its modular approach and applicability across different railway domains, OTI provides a flexible basis for the future of safer, more efficient and highly automated railway operations.
Learn more about the project
FP2-R2DATO
To meet the increasing demand for transportation of both passengers and freight, FP2-R2DATO will take the advantages of digitalisation and automation to develop the next generation ATC and deliver scalable digital and automatic (up to autonomous) train operation (DATO) capabilities in order to enhance the capacity of the existing rail networks.