CLUG Demonstration of Readiness for Rail

Project Information

CLUG 2.0

Grant agreement ID: 101082624

DOI

10.3030/101082624

Project closed

EC signature date 17 October 2022

Start date 1 February 2023

End date 31 July 2025

Funded under

• Digital, Industry and Space

Total cost

€ 4 171 931,41

EU contribution

€ 2 869 432,00

Coordinated by

UNION DES INDUSTRIES FERROVIAIRES EUROPEENNES - UNIFE
Belgium

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CLUG 2.0 (CLUG Demonstration of Readiness for Rail)

Reporting period: 2023-02-01 to 2024-01-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

GNSS and SBAS (EGNOS) is amongst the “game-changing” technologies for future digital and automated rail operations, as acknowledged on the longer-term perspective for the evolution of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) and in the adopted report on railway safety and signalling. CLUG 2.0 continues the activity started in the CLUG project with the same main objective of demonstrating an on-board GNSS+EGNOS-based multi-sensor fusion architecture (Localisation On-Board - LOC-OB System) enabling absolute safe train positioning and navigation whilst also transforming the way of train localisation is done today.

The main objectives of the CLUG 2.0 project are listed below:
• To review, consolidate and complete the high-level user needs and system requirements for the LOC-OB System including Start of Mission and Track Selectivity.
• To consolidate the safe localisation system architecture and to further prototype the functions of the CLUG LOC-OB.
• To consolidate by live demonstration the readiness of the CLUG LOC-OB multi-sensor fusion algorithms.
• To perform an analysis of Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety (RAMS) on the consolidated functional architecture of the system.

The primary impact of the LOC-OB System is to diminish reliance on trackside equipment for train localization, such as Eurobalises and other prevalent devices currently used in the railway industry for train tracking.The LOC-OB system facilitates a transition towards moving block operations (ERTMS/ETCS Level 3). When paired with onboard train integrity devices, it paves the way for a future railway system devoid of track circuits and axle counting systems, significantly contributing to waste reduction. Following this, CLUG 2.0 fosters an interoperable, sustainable, and eco-friendly mobility system, significantly reducing the transportation sector’s environmental impact. Its integration with advanced traffic management and automated train control allows for notable energy savings, thereby aiding in climate change mitigation and greenhouse gas reduction.

The CLUG 2.0 activity will continue in Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking with a main goal of capitalizing the work performed in CLUG 2.0 to demonstrate a complete CLUG LOC-OB prototype demonstration in the frame of the Innovation Pillar of the ERJU program.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the first period of the project the consortium launched all the planned activities in the GA with regards the technical WPs and progressed on them with different level of maturity considering their duration as it is reported below:

1. LOC-OB requirements (WP2) were defined and consolidated using as a basis the CLUG project outcomes on this topic and considering the user needs, operational context, initial assumptions and system boundary also defined on this first period (WP2)

2. The system context analysis and RAMS activities plan were completed together with the preliminary Hazard Analysis (WP3).

3. The CLUG 2.0 consortium focused on addressing the development of LOC-OB critical functions to demonstrate its functional architecture (WP4) for train localisation in ERTMS level 2 and preparing level 3. The algorithms already started in the first period will be completed in the second one.

4. Test trains were equipped with a complete measuring system for collecting sensor data and the developed site demonstrator onboard.

5. The preparation of the Onboard Site Demonstrator has started but not fully completed at the moment of this intermediate report.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

At the moment of this intermediate report the consortium fully completed and consolidated the LOC-OB requirements (WP2) considering the user needs, operational context, initial assumptions and system boundary also defined in this first period. These relevant outcomes were considered during the definition of the tests plan and scenarios and would be relevant for future activities in the second period such as the GNSS business case for absolute safe train positioning and the identification of Change Requests needed/required for the inclusion in future CCS TSI revision.
The RAMS analysis (WP3), algorithms development (WP4) and Integration and Testing (WP5) activities were launched and partially completed in this period but would be finalised and reported in the final one.