QUIETERRAIL D4.1 List of use cases and optimisation criteria QUIETERRAIL aims to support the development of quieter...
Deliverables: Results Published in June 2026
read more
Seamless Integration of Traffic Management and Train Automation for Enhanced Rail Performance
Efficient railway traffic management relies on accurate data, real-time coordination, and seamless system integration. Aligning planning and operations is key to improving performance.
The solution
Europe’s Rail (EU-Rail) builds on this principle, resulting in the development of an effective configuration to interface the Traffic Management System(TMS) with Automatic Train Operation/ Connected Driver Advisory System (ATO/C-DAS) enabled train operations. What’s the main objective? The main objective is to better align train service planning with real-time operations, increasing service reliability and energy-efficiency under both nominal and disturbed traffic conditions.
Key features:
- Seamless Data Integration: An Integration Layer, which enables seamless and standardised data exchange between TMS and the ATO/C-DAS trackside component.
- Enhanced Traffic Management Capabilities: Improved functionalities on the TMS side, using accurate speed and position information from ATO/C-DAS to enhance traffic predictions and management strategies.
- Optimised Speed Profile Generation: Improved information provided to the ATO/C-DAS to generate speed profiles that align with the operational train service plan, increasing punctuality and reducing energy consumption.
- Standardised System Architecture: An effective system architecture linking TMS and ATO/C-DAS operations, supporting the design of system specification requirements to standardise the interface at the European level.
Readiness for Industrialisation and Deployment
What it does
The solution is currently being tested and assessed through nine demonstrators of enhanced TMS and ATO/C-DAS functionalities as well as a TMS/ATO/C-DAS data integration Layer. The assessment is being performed via simulated laboratory environments, in line with TRL requirements.
Maturity level
TRL 5
Expected Benefits
- Increased train service reliability: through enhanced alignment between train service planning and real-time operation, improving the quality of traffic management strategies under disturbed traffic conditions.
- Energy-efficient train operations: as enhanced information on the operational plan from the TMS allows ATO/C-DAS to compute and implement energy-optimised speed profiles, contributing to a more sustainable railway system.
- Leaner traffic management process: enabled by automated and seamless data exchange between the TMS and the ATO/C-DAS, allowing more efficient interactions between traffic controllers and train drivers/ attendants.
- Enhanced passenger information: as the TMS provides more reliable rail traffic predictions based on more accurate information on train status received from the ATO/C-DAS system.
Who benefits
Infrastructure managers
Railway operators
Final users
Conclusion
This solution aims to strengthen the integration between traffic management and train operations, enabling more punctual services and enhanced energy efficiency in train driving. These improvements translate into reduced operational costs, including the ones related to penalties for delays, as well as to energy/fuel billing. At the same time, they contribute to more reliable services and better-quality traffic information, supporting more informed travel choices and an improved passenger experience.
Learn more about the project
FP1-MOTIONAL
The project FP1-MOTIONAL aims to improve planning and operational management of rail services and offers to meet the European goal of making rail the preferred mode of transport.