Railways WG

The predicted obsolescence of GSM-R, combined with the long-term life expectancy of ETCS and of the increasing needs of railway operations, has led UIC (International Union of Railways) to set up a specific program to identify a successor for GSM-R, namely the UIC FRMCS (Future Railway Mobile Communication System) Program.
The UIC FRMCS Program was initially developed in the European context, due to the strong level of interconnection between the various countries of the European Community and then an even stronger necessity to anticipate the migration of GSMR trackside and on-board systems.
This Program is based on the usage of 5G StandAlone and MCX (Mission-Critical) 3GPP architectures, to make the system perennial over time. In this context, a first set of UIC FRMCS Specifications (UIC FRMCS V1) was produced and published at the end of 2023. The evolution of this set of specifications, UIC FRMCS V2, is currently under finalization for a publication expected in the middle of 2025.
As a follow up, a key part of this plan is the delivery by UIC, in the frame of its FRMCS Program, of the FRMCS V3 specifications, also named “FRMCS 1st Edition”, corresponding to the first implementable version of the new system, for their inclusion in a new CCS-TSI in 2027.
Starting from the final UIC FRMCS V2 Specifications & V3 target requirements, as a result of the ERA EECT process, there will be consequently a need to verify, complete or amend these V2 Specifications & V3 target requirements through a full testing of FRMCS functions and system, leading then to market ready V3 Specifications. This operational testing is precisely the objective of FP2-MORANE-2 (MObile radio for RAilway Networks in Europe).
Meanwhile the Standardization Development Body (SDO) International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC) via its Technical Committee 9 (Electrical equipment and systems for railways) has been preparing the International Standard IS 63452 – Cybersecurity specifically applicable to the Railway sector.
Such under-preparation standard is expected to be completed by end of 2025 and become published by mid 2026.
From a first evaluation of such drafted standard, it seems very likely that its contents is not properly facing the typical cybersecurity issues for a 5G-based FRMCS telecommunication system.
On top of the previously described activity, the WG would also like to evaluate potential application of AI to the cybersecurity on FRMCS.
This will most likely be an innovation both in terms of cybersecurity itself as well as to its specific application to the Railway sector.

Activities

• Identify and elaborate current EU regulations (NIS2, CRA, CENELEC TS 50701)
• Monitor and support standardization/trial activities (e.g. future IEC IS 63452 editions, Morane2 feedback, completion of FRMCS…)
• Cooperate with cybersecurity industry aiming to keep up to date their products/system solutions on FRMCS

Outcomes

• Speakers’ series (webinars)
• National and/or EU Research projects
• White paper / technical report:
  • Threats and countermeasures
  • How to navigate through the applicable regulation and standards
  • Organization, procedures and processes to be activated to implement the cybersecurity directives

Champions

• Martin Reed
• Daniele Bozzolo

The potential of digital twin technology has become apparent in recent literature, occurring evermore frequently in literature as the world moves on to the fourth industrial revolution. The use of digital twins in industries such as manufacturing, aerospace and aviation, and healthcare, have illustrated its value in lifecycle data management, control, monitoring, and more.
As the digital twin technology holds great promise in driving the railway industry into a new era of digital intelligence by creating a dynamic, personalized digital replica of a physical train or infrastructure, it has the potential to enable a range of advanced applications, including predictive maintenance, adaptive control, and early fault detection.
Fostering digital transformation is an objective higher than ever on the European Union’s (EU) political agenda and has been identified as key for unlocking future growth in Europe. All sectors are experiencing a fast‑paced evolution as the businesses, products and services fostered by digital technologies grow in sophistication. Transport is no exception, with the rail sector increasingly acknowledging its assets and importance in Europe’s successful ‘digital leap’.
It is undisputable that the twin challenges of green and digital transformations go hand-in-hand. The EC has made it clear that technological innovation needs to also be carried out in a way that contributes to a sustainable, climate neutral and resource-efficient economy. Digital components, in this regard, will also be key in reaching the European Green Deal and Sustainable Development Goals’ (SDGs) ambitions.
The European rail supply industry fully acknowledges that these digital tools can be powerful enablers of the transition towards an economic and social model based on whole sustainability. This vision has been enshrined in the ‘Rail fit for digital age (2020)’ paper published by UNIFE. Digital twins are one of the many trends thoroughly examined in the document, as the technology clearly displays how digitalisation is essential to strengthening the sustainability-related assets of rail – energy efficiency, circularity and capacity.
Digital twins are one of the most talked about topics in transport, because it promises to leverage innovation to improve design, visually enhance collaboration and increase both asset reliability and performance. Many other industries have opened their eyes towards this technology – the rail supply industry is no exception. From healthcare to smart city management, digital twins are becoming essential tools for optimising entire manufacturing value chains and innovating new products.
European rail manufactures UNIFE see digital twins as a great enabler of technological advancement for rail transport, interacting as much with big data as with artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain. One of the true advantages of digital twins technology lies in its ability to anticipate key developments on rail systems and subsystems, deriving insights about the future performance of the physical asset and, eventually, enabling test-driving solutions before taking on the actual applications.
Since digital twins’ technology spans the asset’s entire lifecycle, one of the major areas of potential is rail infrastructure and rolling stock, especially with regard to predictive maintenance. In fact, the use of digital twins in asset simulation can be very helpful for the prediction and identification of components in tracks and vehicles that pose the risk of failure. This ensures that the lessons learned thanks to these digital solutions contribute to design enhancement in line with operational requirements, and that they are applied to future products and systems.
Furthermore, during the planning and construction of a new railway or rolling stock – as well as upgrade or renewal processes – digital twins can contribute to the prediction of changes occurring in the project execution, as well as the risks brought by non-conformant construction. Therefore, using digital twins can help to drive maximum value from infrastructure and rolling stock investments, avoiding cost increases and delays.
This digital tool can be relevant also from a resource efficiency perspective. By allowing for the tracking of a rail asset’s lifecycle, from the design phase through to the recycling stage, it answers the demand for the increased sustainability of process and products. The use of digital twins can, thus, enable rail to further comply with the circular economy requirements set forth by the European Green Deal.
Finally, the strict relationship between digital twins and big data should be looked at carefully. Digital twins tap into real information systems, producing and consuming large volumes of data, bringing in the issue of access to and ownership of that data. UNIFE stresses, once again, the importance of setting a framework for efficient data-sharing in the rail sector – including urban rail – to overcome questions pertaining to data access and ownership. We look forward to the upcoming ‘common mobility data space’ to be set up in the context of the Data Governance Act.
While the railway supply Industry (UNIFE) is quite focused on developing digital twin technology, Infrastructure Managers are focused on finding needs and application ways for this newly coming technologic breakthrough.
All major European IM (e.g. DB, SNCF, FS, NR and ADIF) are adopting this technology in different sectors but mostly with the same aims in mind.
While for the wayside infrastructure the IM are using digital twin technology for better maintaining the network, the Train Operator are recently calling for train supply tenders including among their requirement a full digital representation of the trains to be purchased.
This request aims to be able to better manage the train operations as well as maintenance in order to drastically reduce investments on their fleet assets.

Activities

• Support development of standardized Rolling Stock Digital Twins modeling systems throughout the Industry
• Promote and support National Committees to start a standardization project
• Support standardization activities at CENELEC and/or IEC as third party

Outcomes

• Railway Operator functional and system requirement specifications
• Standard, open, modular and flexible Digital Twins representative solution to the industry (blueprint)
• National and/or EU Research projects

Champions

• TBD