GNSS Automated Virtualized Test Environment for Rail (GATE4Rail) deals with tasks TD2.4 and TD2.6 of the Shift2Rail Multi Annual Action Plan with the goals to:

1. achieve a realistic characterization of the GNSS in the railway's environment assessing the performance and properties of typical fail-safe train positioning components in nominal and fault conditions;
2. implement a common test process framework for zero on-site testing to minimizing cost and time.

GATE4RAIL will implement a geo-distributed simulation and verification platform connecting GNSS centres of excellence, and ERTMS/ETCS laboratories to evaluate the GNSS performances in the railway environment with agreed methodologies and tools. This approach offers the advantage to stress the global system in presence of very rare fault events instead of long and expensive tests on field, developing a standard methodology for representative test cases. GATE4RAIL will develop methodology and tools for an automated update of tests, through Model-Based System Engineering philosophy to ensure that the simulation infrastructure can be maintained and extended reducing the need for re-assessments to increasing the test environment efficiency.

The entire process will be reviewed by an independent Notified Body already engaged on GNSS assessment for rail applications and a demo on railway line in Italy and Spain is included. GATE4RAIL’s team is very competent bringing together expertise on the GNSS and rail sectors necessary for the exploitation of GNSS that is one of the Game changers of the ERTMS.