Overview
In February 2013, the Railway map ERTMS version 1.01 heralded the Start Decision for the ERTMS2 project. The Exploratory Phase thus began. The Start Decision formulated research questions that have to be answered before an appropriately founded implementation scenario can be drawn up. This Railway map version 2.0 sets out the results of the investigations that have been carried out thus far in order to, ultimately, move towards a phased implementation of ERTMS in the Netherlands from 2016 onwards.
In Railway map 1.0 it became clear that ERTMS could perhaps function as an important resource for realising the Long-Term Railway Agenda (LTSA). If ERTMS is implemented effectively, flexibility, robustness and capacity within the railway system are likely to increase. ERTMS is not an objective in itself. According to current insights, however, it offers important functionality in order to help realise the objectives of the LTSA. For a more technical/factual explanation of ERTMS (e.g. the functioning of the various levels), you are referred to Railway map 1.0 and the Knowledge Book. In order to take a significant step forwards in the Netherlands in terms of railway performance, ERTMS must be introduced as part of the complete traffic management system. The implementation of ERTMS could then potentially make an important contribution to taking the following objectives to a higher plane:
• Safety
• Interoperability
• Capacity
• Speed
• Reliability
The Memorandum on Scope and Level of Detail (see annex H) first set out the problem analysis and scope of the problem and then defined the current situation (see figure 4) and European obligations surrounding the implementation of ERTMS. These descriptions form the basis of the 0 scenario with which the future scenarios will be compared. More information about the European obligations is included in annex D.
In order to evaluate the scenarios that were developed and researched in the Exploratory Phase, the NRD and objectives and criteria from the Railway map 1.0 were further elaborated in the first version of the scope of considerations. This gives a rough idea of how the objectives and criteria from the NRD will be made operational in order to be able to assess and compare the scenarios. Creative working sessions with ProRail and NS and also other experts from passenger and freight train operators were used to consider what the possible scenarios could entail, aside from the ultimate method to be chosen for determining the final visions and migration paths. A method was then developed in order to determine the possible scenarios.