Overview
One of the policies proposed by the European Commission in its 2001 White Paper 'European Transport Policy for 2010: time to decide' was to shift the balance between modes of transport by 2010 by revitalising the railways. For railways, the goal for 2010 was to maintain the modal share of rail transport at the same level as that in 1998. Rail transport was thus expected to grow significantly as the total transport demand in 2010 was expected to be 40% higher than in 1998.
In its White Paper, the Commission also announced its intention to table a set of new proposals to improve access to the railway network for freight transport and to amend existing directives on the interoperability of conventional rail systems and high-speed rail systems, as well as a proposal to create a European Railway Safety and Interoperability Agency.
To meet these objectives, affordable and attractive interoperable rolling stock must become the norm for use on European networks.
To avoid the risk of each new train being subject to independent interpretations of the requirements and built from unproven prototype sub-assemblies, interoperable constituents had to be defined, validated and promoted at European industry level.
MODTRAIN was a large Integrated Project (IP) aimed at defining the necessary functional, electrical and mechanical interfaces and validation procedures to deliver the range of interchangeable modules, which will form the basis for the next generation of intercity trains and universal locomotives.
The concept of modularity aimed to create economic advantages both for railway suppliers and operators, such as reduced manufacturing cost and economies of scale, increased productivity of new rolling stock as well as increased reliability founded on a rise in proportion of service-proven components in new rolling stock designs. Together with the technical solutions, these fulfilled the objectives of increased railway competitiveness and interoperability defined in the agenda for the European Rail Research Advisory Council (ERRAC) and in the First and Second Railway Packages enacted by European Union legislation.
As a starting point, MODTRAIN concentrated on fixed-formation passenger trains and universal locomotives capable of 200 km/h or more.
The main outputs of the MODTRAIN project are related to standardisation.
MODTRAIN comprised European railway system manufacturers, sub-system suppliers, railway operators, professional associations and research centres, who began by determining the necessary functional and physical interfaces, requirements and validation procedures. These then formed a reference for the design and development of the range of interchangeable locomotive and rolling stock modules. The operators then assessed, amended and approved the specifications as they emerged. Finally, at the end of the project, open standards for the interfaces of significant train components were put in place.
Therefore, the three key steps representing the main thread on which the implementation plan was based were:
- detailing a generic Functional Requirements Specification (FRS) and System Requirements Specification (SyRS) - this is the precondition for further technical and scientific work regarding the principal elements of running gear, the train control and monitoring system, the on board power system, the human-machine and train-to-train interfaces;
- standardisation of functions and interfaces - this does not stop at the level of the four principal elements (sub-projects), as it also encompasses the definition of interfaces of smaller units and components (spare parts);
- the interfaces of the modules and components - these are described in terms of open standards (to operators, industry and maintenance service providers).
The technical and scientific work of the project addressed four principal elements, which were structured as their own sub-projects:
- MODBOGIE - Running gear;
- MODCONTROL - Control and monitoring system;
- MODPOWER - On-board power system;
- MODLINK - Man-machine and train-to-train interfaces.
The dissemination policy and information to all railway stakeholders was organised within the fifth sub-project MODUSER, the MODTRAIN User Platform.
Funding
Results
A highly technical project, MODTRAIN provided the high speed market with a set of specifications that allow for better inter-changeability of key components for maintenance, as well as for a higher level of standardisation at the interfaces of the main train subsystems.
This was achieved through the identification of the main interfaces subject to possible standardisation and the drafting of the related standards. This problem was addressed by breaking the four principal areas of a train's architecture - running gear, train control and monitoring system, on-board power system, man-machine and train-to-train interfaces - into four tasks, or 'outputs':
- MODTRAIN's first main output consisted of building a common architecture stemming from an analysis based on functional breakdown structure, and the subsequent allocation of functions. All train functions were included.
- The next main output of the project was the elaboration of the functional requirements of the sub-systems and building of a harmonised requirements database.
- The third main output was the identification of the main modules and the set of common interfaces specifications.
- The fourth main output was the devising of a set of inputs for future EN standards and technical specifications for interoperability. This output was based on both draft standards agreed upon by the railway industry and operators, and on new concepts tested for modules and interfaces by means of simulation/testing/mock-up methodologies.
Technical Implications
MODTRAIN's technical breakthroughs provided a proven set of functional, electrical and mechanical interfaces and validation procedures to deliver the range of interchangeable modules, which will form the basis for the next generation on intercity trains and universal locomotives.
Expanding on this at an operational level, some of MODTRAIN's technical results (module and interface specifications) are at present in the pipeline of the European Standardisation Organisations (CEN / CENELEC) to become future European norms.
Policy implications
MODTRAIN expands on the EU's previous legislative packages that were set out to support the rail sector and increase its competitiveness. In these packages, the Commission developed the Interoperability Directives which set essential requirements, so as to ensure safe and uninterrupted rail traffic on the Trans-European network.
Taking a step further, MODTRAIN also paved the way for a new type of cooperation between the different actors of the sector. Beyond the mandatory requirements set in the European regulations, MODTRAIN proves that voluntary harmonisation is feasible and is contributing to the objectives of greener, safer and faster trains for Europe.